anauxite

Anauxite is a mineral composed of hydrous aluminum silicate. It occurs in interstratified layers of silica and kaolin, with kaolin being the predominant component. Anauxite is found as a constituent of certain clays. Aluminum itself is the third most abundant element in Earth's crust, but it rarely occurs in its metallic form due to its strong tendency to combine with other elements. Instead, aluminum compounds are common in rocks like clay, shale, and granite. The primary ore for aluminum is bauxite, which is an aluminum hydroxide or oxide with impurities like iron oxide and silica. Bauxite deposits are found globally, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. While anauxite is a specific mineral, bauxite is the commercially significant ore from which alumina (aluminum oxide) is extracted for aluminum production.123