Laterite
Laterite is an iron and aluminum-rich weathering material or rock that often appears red, orange, brown, or earthy.
Laterite properties at a glance
| Type | Sedimentary Rocks |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | Iron and aluminum-rich weathered rock; composition varies |
| Mohs hardness | 4 |
| Luster | dull |
| Streak | Red brown to yellow brown |
| Cleavage | Variable by mineral grains |
| Fracture | Earthy to uneven |
| Specific gravity | 2.7 |
| Transparency | opaque |
| Common colors | Red, Orange, Brown, Yellow brown, Purple red |
| Rarity | common |
Geology & background
Forms by intense chemical weathering in warm, wet climates, concentrating iron and aluminum oxides near the surface.
Laterite is important for understanding deep weathering profiles, tropical soils, and some ore deposits.
How to identify Laterite
- Look for earthy red, orange, brown, or yellow-brown colors.
- Laterite can be porous, nodular, or strongly weathered.
- It often occurs near surface weathering profiles rather than fresh bedrock interiors.
- Do not confuse laterite with ordinary red sandstone unless texture and context support it.
Where Laterite is found
Laterite occurs in many sedimentary settings worldwide; exact locality should be verified from field notes, maps, or specimen provenance.
How much is Laterite worth?
| Entry-level specimen | $1 |
|---|---|
| Typical collector specimen | $10 |
| Premium specimen | $75+ |
Laterite is usually valued for teaching, field context, locality, texture, fossils, color, or unusual structures rather than high gem value.
Common uses
- Field identification
- Education
- Building blocks in some regions
- Ore exploration context
Interesting facts
- Laterite commonly forms in tropical and subtropical weathering environments.
- Bauxite can be considered an aluminum-rich lateritic deposit.
- Hardened laterite has been used as a building material in some regions.
Care & safety
Laterite can be soft, porous, crumbly, or weakly cemented depending on grain size, cement, and weathering.
Avoid inhaling dust. Do not cut, grind, or polish unknown sedimentary rocks without eye protection and a properly rated respirator.
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