Bauxite

Name:
Bauxite
Detailed information:

M Formula:	Contains 30–75% Al2O3, 9–31% H2O, 3–25% Fe2O3, 2–9%, SiO2, 1–3% TiO2
Properties:
White cream, yellow, brown, gray, or red. D 2–2.55, Mohs hardness 1–3. Insoluble in water; decomposed by hydrochloric acid. Noncombustible.
Occurrence:
Australia, Jamaica, France, Guiana, Guinea, U.S. (Arkansas), Brazil.
Use:
Most important ore of aluminum, aluminum chemicals, abrasives, aluminous cement, refractories, decolorizing and deodorizing agent, catalysts, filler in rubber, plastics, paints, cosmetics, hydraulic fracturing.

See Bayer Process; Hall Process.

Note: Due to increasing cost of bauxite the use of other aluminum-containing minerals is under active investigation.