Bauxite

This is a short overview. For the background — history, value over time and notable mines — see Bauxite →

Occurs in: Laterite and Residual Weathering Deposits →

The principal ore of aluminium, a reddish-brown rock formed by intense tropical weathering of aluminium-rich rocks. In Ireland it occurs as a weathered crust — a laterite — developed on basalt lava between periods of volcanic activity, mined by simple opencast stripping rather than underground working, and smelted elsewhere into aluminium metal.