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Gibbsite
Gibbsite is hydroxides, Al(OH)3. In the hand, it rates 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, and it runs white and pale blue-green. Light, soft, bubbly botryoidal balls in white to soft mint-blue with a faint clay smell when breathed on; a major component of bauxite.
The geology.
Gibbsite carries the formula Al(OH)3. It belongs to the monoclinic system. Its listing category is hydroxides.
It sits at 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads vitreous to pearly; dull in masses. Light behaviour is translucent. Specific gravity runs 2.34 to 2.42. The streak is white. It breaks with perfect basal cleavage; tough in botryoidal form.
Light, soft, bubbly botryoidal balls in white to soft mint-blue with a faint clay smell when breathed on; a major component of bauxite.
It turns up mostly as botryoidal balls and crusts, stalactitic masses or tumbled (stabilized).
The origins.
Weathering crusts and bauxites worldwide; collectible botryoidal material from Russia, Brazil, and China.
On value, the database notes: affordable; aesthetic blue-green botryoids trend upward.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, associated with soothing communication and softening stubbornness.
This is lore, and we label it as lore. The measurable facts are further up the page.
Spotting the real thing.
Light, soft, bubbly botryoidal balls in white to soft mint-blue with a faint clay smell when breathed on; a major component of bauxite.
Dyed look-alikes are rare; mislabeling as smithsonite inflates prices, weight exposes the swap.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Smithsonite | Smithsonite is far heavier (SG 4.4) and harder, with a fizz in warm acid |
| Hemimorphite crust | Hemimorphite is harder (4.5 to 5) with bladed micro-crystal sparkle |
| Chalcedony botryoid | Chalcedony scratches glass; gibbsite is fingernail-to-coin soft |
At-home tests.
A loupe and a window seat settle most questions about gibbsite. No workshop required.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Soft (2.5 to 3) and very light in hand |
| By eye | Earthy clay odor when moistened or breathed on |
| Acid check | No fizz with vinegar |
Anything that scratches, burns or dissolves the piece is a lab job. Get it appraised rather than testing it apart.
Care & handling.
At 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale this is a soft material. Keep it as a display piece, store it apart from harder stones, and skip daily-wear settings.
It breaks with perfect basal cleavage; tough in botryoidal form, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Warm water and a soft cloth clean almost everything. Ultrasonic tanks, steamers and household cleaners are where pieces get ruined.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is Al(OH)3. Crystal system: Monoclinic. Specific gravity: 2.34 to 2.42. Streak: White. Cleavage and fracture: Perfect basal cleavage; tough in botryoidal form.
How it reaches the market
Weathering crusts and bauxites worldwide; collectible botryoidal material from Russia, Brazil, and China.
What it gets confused with
Smithsonite: Smithsonite is far heavier (SG 4.4) and harder, with a fizz in warm acid. Hemimorphite crust: Hemimorphite is harder (4.5 to 5) with bladed micro-crystal sparkle. Chalcedony botryoid: Chalcedony scratches glass; gibbsite is fingernail-to-coin soft.
What it is worth
Affordable; aesthetic blue-green botryoids trend upward.
Where buyers get caught
Dyed look-alikes are rare; mislabeling as smithsonite inflates prices, weight exposes the swap.
One more thing
Almost every aluminum can began as gibbsite-rich bauxite; the collector balls are the photogenic fraction of the world's most mined hydroxide.
An education-first guide.
No product links here. We do not sell gibbsite, and a guide that only covers our own shelves would not be much of a guide.
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