An intense form of chemical weathering and leaching in hot, humid tropical climates that strips soil of silica and soluble minerals while leaving iron and aluminum oxides concentrated behind, producing the deep red, nutrient-poor soils called laterite. Laterized soils cover much of the humid tropics and, once exposed and dried, can harden into a durable material long used as a building stone.
Facts
Process TypeBiogeochemical or Pedological 1 Sources
1. Laterization (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroductionQuote, Introduction
Laterite is a soil type rich in iron and aluminum that often forms in hot, wet areas; most such soil is found in the tropics. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration due to high iron oxide content.
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