A sample of bauxite, the principal ore of aluminium, with beads of aluminium metal. Aluminium (symbol Al) is a silvery-white, soft, non-magnetic and ductile metal. Its low density and corrosion resistance makes it ideal for forming alloys for use in transportation and aerospace. Bauxite is a mix of various aluminium compounds, mainly gibbsite or aluminium hydroxide Al(OH)3 and boehmite and diaspore (alpha and beta versions of AlO(OH) respectively).