Definition
Laterite rock is a type of Sedimentary rock which is rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas
History
Origin
India
Discoverer
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton
Etymology
From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Family
Group
-
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic
Color
Brown, Buff, Red
Maintenance
Less
Durability
Durable
Water Resistant
✔
✘
58% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks
Scratch Resistant
✔
✘
61% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks
Stain Resistant
✔
✘
42% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks
Wind Resistant
✔
✘
36% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks
Acid Resistant
✔
✘
19% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks
Appearance
Rough and Banded
Architecture
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Industry
Construction Industry
Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
Medical Industry
-
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Other Uses
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Source of bauxite, Used in aquariums
Types
Laterite
Features
Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
-
Famous Monuments
-
Sculpture
-
Famous Sculptures
-
Pictographs
-
Petroglyphs
-
Figurines
-
Fossils
Present
Formation
Laterite is a type of sedimentary rock which is generally a reddish weathering product of basalt.
Composition
Mineral Content
Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Transformation
Metamorphism
✔
✘
17% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks
Types of Metamorphism
-
Weathering
✔
✘
78% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Erosion
✔
✘
86% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Physical Properties
Hardness
2
1
7
👆🏻
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Streak
White
Porosity
Highly Porous
Luster
Dull
Compressive Strength
5.00 N/mm2
Rank: 47 (Overall)
0.15
450
👆🏻
Cleavage
-
Toughness
-
Specific Gravity
-9999
0
8.4
👆🏻
Transparency
Opaque
Density
-9999 g/cm3
0
1400
👆🏻
Thermal Properties
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
Rank: 10 (Overall)
0.14
3.2
👆🏻
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
India
Africa
East Africa, Western Africa
Europe
England, Romania, Scotland
Others
-
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
South America
-
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia