What type of product is bauxite?

Bauxite is an important ore of aluminium. It is a sedimentary rock that is rich in aluminium oxide and iron oxide. Bauxite is formed by the weathering of aluminium-rich rocks in tropical and subtropical climates. The weathering process dissolves the silicon dioxide and other impurities from the rocks, leaving behind a clay-like substance that is rich in aluminium oxide. Bauxite is the primary ore used for the production of aluminium and is the principal source of the metal.