sedimentary

Laterite

Laterite (Ferricrete / Alcrete)

Hardness: 2.0-3.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Rusty-red, orange, or brown, Luster: Dull to earthy, Structure: Pisolitic or vesicular texture, Specific Gravity: 2.5-3.6

Hardness: 2

Identified June 26, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2.0-3.5 (Mohs scale), Color: Rusty-red, orange, or brown, Luster: Dull to earthy, Structure: Pisolitic or vesicular texture, Specific Gravity: 2.5-3.6

Formation & geological history

Formed by intense and long-lasting weathering (leaching) of underlying parent rock in tropical conditions, resulting in high concentrations of iron and aluminum oxides. Typically Cenozoic to Holocene age.

Uses & applications

Used as a common building material for roads and bricks, as an ore for nickel, aluminum (bauxite), and iron, and occasionally for historical masonry/sculptures.

Geological facts

Laterite was famously used to build the monumental structures of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The coordinates provided (Papua, Indonesia) are a prime tropical environment for laterite formation due to high rainfall and humidity.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive rusty-red color and hardened, crumbly texture. Frequently found as a thick soil layer or surface crust in humid tropical regions like Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.