Bauxite is a sedimentary rock that serves as the primary world source of aluminum, typically forming through the intense chemical weathering of rocks in tropical climates. It is characterized by its earthy, pisolitic, or oolitic texture and commonly exhibits a distinct red or mottled appearance due to high iron oxide content.
Is this bauxite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch bauxite with a known reference. Bauxite sits at Mohs 1-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bauxite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bauxite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, brown, tan, white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: pisolitic, oolitic, massive, earthy.
Often confused with
Bauxite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bauxite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bauxite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 1-3
- Density
- 2.0-2.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Pisolitic, Oolitic, Massive, Earthy
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Industrial, Ore
- Host rock
- Weathered Tropical Soils
- Typical price
- $5-20 specimen
Where rockhounds find bauxite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Australia
- Guinea
- Brazil
- Jamaica
- India
Field-hunting tip
Look in weathered tropical soils country — that is the host setting where bauxite typically forms. If you start seeing gibbsite, boehmite, diaspore in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pisolitic, oolitic, massive, earthy habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Arkansas, Tennessee — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify bauxite?+
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Can I find bauxite in the United States?+
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What rocks look like bauxite?+
What minerals are found with bauxite?+
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Find bauxite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
