Bauxite

The ore of aluminum, formed by intense tropical weathering.

Bauxite specimen — Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify bauxite

Reddish, earthy, often with pea-sized round pellets.
Light and soft.
Clay-like smell when wet.

Often confused with

Ironstone
Ironstone is much heavier and harder, with a rusty-brown streak.
Compare side by side

Where it's found

Weipa, Australia
Guinea
Jamaica
Arkansas

Uses

Aluminum production.

Rock tumbling

Not suitable for tumbling.

Did you know?

It's named after Les Baux-de-Provence in France, where it was first identified.

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