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Laterite identification and geology

A deeply weathered, iron-rich and aluminum-rich residual soil or rock formed by intense chemical weathering under hot, humid tropical to subtropical conditions. Laterites are characterized by the accumulation of insoluble iron and aluminum hydroxides goethite, hematite, gibbsite and the leaching of silica and other soluble elements. Lateritic soils are widespread in tropical regions and can host significant nickel and aluminum bauxite deposits. Field: geochemistry. Example: The lateritic nickel deposits of New Caledonia formed through the tropical weathering of ultramafic peridotite bedrock, concentrating nickel in limonitic and saprolitic horizons to economically mineable grades.. Related terms: Bauxite, Weathering, Residual soil, Leaching.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.027557+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Laterite mean in geology?
A deeply weathered, iron-rich and aluminum-rich residual soil or rock formed by intense chemical weathering under hot, humid tropical to subtropical conditions. Laterites are characterized by the accumulation of insoluble iron and aluminum hydroxides goethite, hematite, gibbsite and the leaching of silica and other soluble elements. Lateritic soils are widespread in tropical regions and can host significant nickel and aluminum bauxite deposits.
What is an example of Laterite?
The lateritic nickel deposits of New Caledonia formed through the tropical weathering of ultramafic peridotite bedrock, concentrating nickel in limonitic and saprolitic horizons to economically mineable grades.
Which earth-science field uses the term Laterite?
Laterite is used in geochemistry.
Which terms are related to Laterite?
Related terms in this reference are Bauxite, Weathering, Residual soil, Leaching.

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