Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Gibbsite



Gibbsite is a mineral and the most common form of the mineral species known as gibbsite-group minerals. It is also known as hydrargillite or alumohydrocalcite. The chemical formula of gibbsite is Al(OH)3, which means it consists of aluminum, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms.

Gibbsite is an important source of aluminum. It occurs as a white, gray, or yellowish mineral and is found in bauxite, which is the primary source of aluminum ore. Gibbsite forms in a variety of environments, including as a weathering product of aluminum-bearing rocks, as a secondary mineral in hydrothermal veins, and as a component of some soils.

Gibbsite has a characteristic platy or tabular crystal habit, and its crystals often exhibit a hexagonal symmetry. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5-3, a specific gravity of 2.3-2.4, and is insoluble in water. Gibbsite is also used in a variety of industrial applications, including as a filler in plastics and coatings, as a catalyst support in the petroleum industry, and as a component in the manufacture of ceramics.




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