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Bauxite
Main Deposits
Australia, Guinea, Brazil, China, India, Jamaica, Indonesia and Spain (in Barcelona).
Description and Characteristics
Bauxite is the world’s primary source of aluminium, formed by the extreme chemical weathering (laterisation) of clay-rich rocks in tropical or subtropical climates. It does not have a single crystalline structure, as it is a mixture of minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore, combined with iron oxides and clays. It is found in surface residual deposits and is easily recognised by its earthy appearance and its often pisolitic structure (formed by small, pea-sized spheres).
| Chemical Formula | $$Al(OH)₃$$ |
|---|---|
| Luster | Earthy mate |
| Streak | White to reddish-brown |
| Fracture | Irregular to earthy |
| Cleavage | Null |
| Hardness | 1-3 Mohs |
| Crystal System | Aggregate |
Did you know...?
Bauxite takes its name from the town of Les Baux in Provence (France), where it was identified by the geologist Pierre Berthier in 1821 and named ‘bauxite’, its French name.
New-Age Properties
Keep a copy in your creative space to avoid "writer's block" or use it in grounding meditations to connect with the Earth's transformative energy.