bauxite

[ bawk-sahyt, boh-zahyt ]

noun

1. a rock consisting of aluminum oxides and hydroxides with various impurities: the principal ore of aluminum.

bauxite

/ ˈbɔːksaɪt /

noun

1. a white, red, yellow, or brown amorphous claylike substance comprising aluminium oxides and hydroxides, often with such impurities as iron oxides. It is the chief ore of aluminium. General formula: Al 2 O 3 . n H 2 O

bauxite

/ bôk′sīt′ /

1. A soft, whitish to reddish-brown rock consisting mainly of hydrous aluminum oxides and aluminum hydroxides along with silica, silt, iron hydroxides, and clay minerals. Bauxite forms from the breakdown of clays and is a major source of aluminum.

Other Words From

• baux·it·ic [bawk-, sit, -ik, boh-, zit, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bauxite¹

1860–65; named after Les Baux, near Arles in S France; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of bauxite¹

C19: from French, from ( Les ) Baux in southern France, where it was originally found

Example Sentences

“The region has significant natural reserves of key critical minerals vital for clean energy technologies, including nickel, tin, rare-earth elements, and bauxite,” the report said.

From Salon

Similar electrolytic techniques have been used for decades to extract aluminum from bauxite.

From Science Magazine

Widodo’s government has sought to leverage the country’s reserves of nickel and other raw materials to bring in manufacturing, banning export of raw commodities such as nickel and bauxite to oblige companies to build refineries domestically.

From Seattle Times

To speed up development of key industries, Widodo banned exports of certain raw commodities such as nickel and bauxite, which is used to make aluminum, obliging companies to build refineries to process and add value to what Indonesia sells to the rest of the world.

From Seattle Times

When red sludge from a bauxite mine engulfed a Hungarian valley in 2010, and a burst reservoir of toxic sludge threatened the shores of the River Danube, he appeared happiest in rubber boots, with his sleeves rolled up, stacking sandbags alongside firemen and volunteers.

From BBC