sedimentary
Laterite
Laterite (Iron and Aluminum-rich residual soil/rock)
Hardness varies from soft and crumbly to very hard depending on iron content, color ranges from reddish-brown to orange-yellow due to iron oxides, dull luster, porous or vesicular texture, non-crystalline mass.
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Physical properties
Hardness varies from soft and crumbly to very hard depending on iron content, color ranges from reddish-brown to orange-yellow due to iron oxides, dull luster, porous or vesicular texture, non-crystalline mass.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the intensive weathering of underlying parent rocks in wet, tropical, and subtropical climates, where leaching washes away soluble elements like silica, leaving insoluble iron and aluminum oxides.
Uses & applications
Historically used as building blocks (cut into bricks known as laterite blocks), source of iron, nickel, and bauxite (aluminum ore), and in road construction.
Geological facts
Laterite is famously used in the construction of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, where it was easily cut when wet and hardened upon exposure to air.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinct porous, sponge-like texture, bright reddish-orange color, and high iron content. Commonly found in tropical regions including India, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of South America.
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