Comparison · Minerals vs Sedimentary Rocks
Bauxite vs Laterite
Bauxite and Laterite are easy to confuse. Laterite is harder (Mohs 4) than Bauxite (Mohs 1–3), so Laterite will scratch Bauxite and not the other way round. A fingernail (Mohs 2.5) scratches it easily. Below is a side-by-side comparison of their properties and the quick tests that separate them.
Key differences between Bauxite and Laterite
- Laterite is harder (Mohs 4) than Bauxite (Mohs 1–3), so Laterite will scratch Bauxite and not the other way round. A fingernail (Mohs 2.5) scratches it easily.
- Streak color differs: Bauxite leaves a white to yellowish streak on unglazed porcelain, Laterite leaves red brown to yellow brown.
- Hold a thin edge to the light: Bauxite is Opaque, Laterite is opaque.
- They overlap in brown, red, and yellow, but Bauxite also comes in gray and white and Laterite also comes in orange and purple.
Bauxite vs Laterite properties
| Property | Bauxite | Laterite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Minerals | Sedimentary Rocks |
| Mohs hardness | 1–3 | 4 |
| Luster | Dull, earthy; slight luster on pisoliths | dull |
| Streak | White to yellowish | Red brown to yellow brown |
| Transparency | Opaque | opaque |
| Specific gravity | 2.0–2.55 | 2.7 |
| Crystal system | — | varies |
| Common colors | Reddish brown, Tan, Gray, White, Yellow | Red, Orange, Brown, Yellow brown, Purple red |
| Rarity | common | common |
| Typical specimen value | $2–$150+ | $1–$75+ |
Which is more valuable?
Bauxite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $20 against $10 for Laterite, and premium Bauxite can reach $150 or more.
About Bauxite
Bauxite is not a single mineral but a heterogeneous rock composed mainly of aluminum hydroxide minerals, gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore, mixed with iron oxides, clay, and minor quartz. It forms as a residual deposit left behind after intense chemical weathering strips more soluble elements from aluminum-rich parent rock in tropical and subtropical climates. Bauxite is the world's principal ore of aluminum and typically shows a pisolitic, pea-like texture.
About Laterite
Laterite is an iron and aluminum-rich weathering material or rock that often appears red, orange, brown, or earthy.
Bauxite vs Laterite FAQ
Is Bauxite the same as Laterite?
No. Bauxite is a mineral while Laterite is a sedimentary rock. Laterite is harder (Mohs 4) than Bauxite (Mohs 1–3), so Laterite will scratch Bauxite and not the other way round. A fingernail (Mohs 2.5) scratches it easily.
How can you tell Bauxite from Laterite?
Laterite is harder (Mohs 4) than Bauxite (Mohs 1–3), so Laterite will scratch Bauxite and not the other way round. A fingernail (Mohs 2.5) scratches it easily. Streak color differs: Bauxite leaves a white to yellowish streak on unglazed porcelain, Laterite leaves red brown to yellow brown. Hold a thin edge to the light: Bauxite is Opaque, Laterite is opaque.
Which is harder, Bauxite or Laterite?
Laterite is harder: Mohs 4 against Mohs 1–3 for Bauxite.
Which is more valuable, Bauxite or Laterite?
Bauxite is usually the more valuable of the two: a typical collector specimen runs about $20 against $10 for Laterite, and premium Bauxite can reach $150 or more.
