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Bauxite identification and geology

Bauxite mineral reference specimen

Not a single mineral but a mixture of aluminum hydroxides gibbsite, boehmite, diaspore that is the primary ore of aluminum. Color: Red, brown, white, gray. Luster: Earthy to dull. Streak: White to reddish. Cleavage: None. Hardness: 1-3. Transparency: Opaque. Crystal system: Amorphous mixture. Chemical formula: Al₂O₃·nH₂O mixture. Specific gravity: 2.0-2.5. Formation: Forms by intense tropical weathering lateritization of aluminum-bearing rocks over millions of years. Common geological settings: Australia, Guinea, Brazil, Jamaica, India; found in tropical laterite soils. Common look-alikes and related entries: Limonite, Laterite, Iron ore.

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  • Limonite

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:37:43.106458+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
  • Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.

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Common questions

What is Bauxite?
Not a single mineral but a mixture of aluminum hydroxides gibbsite, boehmite, diaspore that is the primary ore of aluminum.
How can you identify Bauxite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Red, brown, white, gray; lustre: Earthy to dull; streak: White to reddish; Mohs hardness: 1-3; cleavage: None; crystal system: Amorphous mixture; transparency: Opaque. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Bauxite form?
Forms by intense tropical weathering lateritization of aluminum-bearing rocks over millions of years.
Where is Bauxite commonly found?
Australia, Guinea, Brazil, Jamaica, India; found in tropical laterite soils.
What is Bauxite commonly confused with?
Bauxite may be confused with Limonite, Laterite, Iron ore. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.

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