Laterite and Obsidian Definition

Definition of Laterite and Obsidian

The general Laterite and Obsidian definition can be stated as: Laterite rock is a type of Sedimentary rock which is rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. On the other hand, Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth. Along with definition of Laterite and Obsidian, get to know about Properties of Laterite and Obsidian. Get to know more information about Laterite and Obsidian origin and discoverer, etymology and class.

History of Laterite and Obsidian

The history of Laterite and Obsidian gives information about where the rock was found and who was its discoverer. Almost each and every aspect of Earth's history is recorded in rocks be it the volcanoes which were erupted or the plants, animals and organisms which are now extinct, as rocks are present from millions of years.

Laterite and Obsidian Origin and Discoverer

Laterite and Obsidian definition gives us a brief idea about the two rocks. In some cases, the definition also gives summary about the Formation of Laterite and Obsidian. In this section, you will know about Laterite and Obsidian Origin and Discoverer. Origin of Laterite is India whereas Origin of Obsidian is Ethiopia. It is interesting to know the name of Laterite and Obsidian discoverer. The Discoverer of Laterite is Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and the discoverer of Obsidian is Obsius.

Etymology of Laterite and Obsidian

Along with Laterite and Obsidian definition, know more about the etymology of Laterite and Obsidian. Etymology of Laterite and Obsidian gives information about origin and formation of a particular rock. Know more about Formation of Laterite and Formation of Obsidian. The etymology of Laterite is From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1 while that of Obsidian is From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1. The process of formation of rocks defines the class of rock. All the rocks in a class are formed by similar processes. Laterite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Obsidian belongs to Igneous Rocks. The sub-class, group and other categories of Laterite and Obsidian are listed below.

For Laterite,

• Sub-class: Durable Rock and Soft Rock
• Group: Not applicable
• Other Categories: Fine grained rock and Opaque rock

For Obsidian,

• Sub-class: Durable Rock and Medium Hardness Rock
• Group: Volcanic
• Other Categories: Opaque rock