Definition
Laterite rock is a type of Sedimentary rock which is rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas
  
Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.
  
History
  
  
Origin
India
  
Indonesia
  
Discoverer
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton
  
Cornish Gossen
  
Etymology
From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1
  
From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic
  
Rough, Sandy
  
Color
Brown, Buff, Red
  
Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Rough and Banded
  
Dull and Banded
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Source of bauxite, Used in aquariums
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone
  
Types
Not Available
  
Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan
  
Features
Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock
  
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Absent
  
Formation
Laterite is a type of sedimentary rock which is generally a reddish weathering product of basalt.
  
Earth movements can cause rocks to be either deeply buried or squeezed and hence the rocks are heated and put under great pressure.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
2
  
4-5
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Fine to Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White to Grey
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Dull
  
Metallic
  
Cleavage
Not Applicable
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
Not Available
  
2.0
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
  
0.24 kJ/Kg K
  
24
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
India
  
China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea
  
Africa
East Africa, Western Africa
  
Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
England, Romania, Scotland
  
Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Laterite vs Gossan Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Laterite vs Gossan characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Laterite and Properties of Gossan. Learn more about Laterite vs Gossan in the next section. The interior uses of Laterite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Gossan include Countertops, Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Laterite and Gossan, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Laterite in construction industry include Cobblestones, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone and that of Gossan include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.
More about Laterite and Gossan
Here you can know more about Laterite and Gossan. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Laterite and Gossan consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Laterite includes Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and mineral content of Gossan includes Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Laterite vs Gossan, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Laterite is available in brown, buff, red colors whereas, Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors. Appearance of Laterite is Rough and Banded and that of Gossan is Dull and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Laterite vs Gossan. The hardness of Laterite is 2 and that of Gossan is 4-5. The types of Laterite are Not Available whereas types of Gossan are Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Laterite is white while that of Gossan is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Laterite is Not Available and that of Gossan is 0.24 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Laterite is heat resistant, pressure resistant whereas Gossan is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.