Abstract
Reviewing the different meanings that have been given to the term “laterite” since Buchanan’s original paper (Buchanan, 1807), Schellmann (1981, 1982) proposed to give to this particular rock the following definition: “Laterites are products of intense subaerial weathering whose Fe and/or Al content is higher and Si content is lower than in merely kaolinized parent rock. They consist predominantly of mineral assemblages of goethite, hematite, Al hydroxides, kaolinite minerals, and quartz.”
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Literature Cited
Ambrosi, J. P., and D. Nahon. 1986. Petrological and geochemical differentiations of lateritic iron crust profiles in the Diouga area (Burkina Faso). Chem. Geol. 57:371–393.
Ambrosi, J. P., D. Nahon, and A. J. Herbillon. 1986. The epigenetic replacement of kaolinite by hematite in laterite. Petrographical evidence and the mechanisms involved. Geoderma 37:283–294.
Bardossy, G. 1983. A comparison of the main lateritic bauxite regions of our globe, p. 15–51. In A. J. Melfi and A. Carvalho (eds.) Laterization Processes. University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Bocquier, G., J. P. Muller, and B. Boulangé. 1984. Les Latérites. Connaissances et.perspectives actuelles sur les mécanismes de leur différentiation, p. 123–138. In Livre Jubilaire due Cinquantenaire. Ameciation Française de l’Etude du Sol (A.F.E.S.) éd., Paris.
Brinkman, R. 1970. Ferrolysis, a hydromorphic soil forming process. Geoderma 3:199–206.
Brinkman, R. 1979. Ferrolysis, a soil forming process in hydromorphic conditions. Agricultural Research Reports, 887. Center for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen.
Buchanan, F. 1807. A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar. East India Co., London.
Cantinolle, P., P. Didier, J. D. Meunier, C. Parron, J. L. Guendon, G. Bocquier, and D. Nahon. 1984. Kaolinites ferriféres et oxyhydroxydes de fer et d’alumine dans les bauxites de Canonnettes (S.E. de la France). Clay Miner. 19:125–136.
D’Hoore, J. 1954. L’accumulation des Sesquioxydes Libres dans les Sols Tropicaux. INEAC, Série Scientifique No. 62, Bruxelles.
Espiau, P., and G. Pedro. 1983. Etude du phénomène de ferrolyse par voie expérimentale, production d’acidité d’échange et mise en évidence du rôle catalytique des minéraux argileux. Science du Sol 34:173–184.
Garrels, R. M., and C. L. Christ. 1965. Solutions, Minerals and Equilibria. Harper and Row, New York.
Gerstl, Z., and A. Banin. 1980. Fe2+-Fe3+ transformation in clay and resin ion-exchange systems. Clays Clay Miner. 28:335–344.
Hinckley, D. N. 1963. Variability of “crystallinity” values among the kaolin deposits of the coastal plain of Georgia and South Carolina. Clays Clay Miner. 13:229–235.
Leprun, J. C. 1979. Les Cuirrasses Ferrugineuses des Pays Cristallins de l’Afrique de l’Ouest Sèche. Genèse, Transformation, Dégradations. Mém. Sci. Géol., University of Strasbourg, 58, 224 p.
Leprun, J. C., and D. Nahon. 1973. Cuirassement ferrugineux autochtones sur deux types de roches, Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr. 7:356–361.
Mann, A. W. 1983. Hydrogeochemistry and weathering on the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia. Ferrolysis and heavy metals in continental brines. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 47:181–190.
McFarlane, M. J. 1976. Laterite and Landscape. Academic Press, London.
Mestdagh, M. M., A. J. Herbillon, L. Rodrique, and P. G. Rouxhet. 1982. Evaluation du rôle du fer structural sur la cristallinité des kaolinites. Bull. Minéral. 105:457–466.
Millot, G. 1970. Geology of Clays. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
Millot, G., and M. Bonifas. 1955. Transformations isovoiumétriques dans les phénomènes de latérisation et de bauxitisation. Bull. Serv. Carte Géol., Als. Lorr. 8:3–10.
Muller, J. P., and G. Bocquier. 1987. Mineralogical and microstructural aspects of pedogenetic alteration in a laterite formation of Cameroon, p. 22-yy. In L. G. Schultz, H. van Olphen, and F. A. Mumpton (eds.) Proc. Int. Clay Conf., Denver, 1985. The Clay Minerals Society, Bloomington, Indiana.
Nahon, D. 1976. Cuirasses Ferrugineuses et Encroûtements Calcaires au Sénégal Occidental et en Mauritanie. Systèmes Evolutifs: Géochimie, Structures, Relais et Coexistence. Mém. S. Géol., University of Strasbourg, 44, 232 p.
Nahon, D. 1986. Evolution of iron crusts in tropical landscapes, p. 169–191. In S. M. Coleman and D. P. Dethier (eds.) Rates of Chemical Weathering. Academic Press, New York, 603 p.
Norton, A. S. 1973. Laterite and bauxite formation. Econ. Geol. 63: 353–361.
Pedro, G., and A. J. Melfi. 1983. The superficial alteration in tropical regions and the laterization phenomena, p. 3–13. In A. J. Melfi and A. Carvalho (eds.) Laterization Processes. Proc. 2nd Int. Sem. Laterization Processes, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pion, J. C. 1979. L’altération des Massifs Cristallins Basiques en Zone Tropicale Sèche. Mém. Géol., University of Strasbourg, 57, 220 p.
Schellman, W. 1981. Considerations on the definition and classification of laterites. p. 1–10. Proc. Int. Sem. Laterization Processes, Trivandrum.
Schellman, W. 1982. Eine neue Lateritdefinition. Geol. Jb. 58:31–47.
Schwertmann, U., and E. Murad. 1983. Effect of on the formation of goethite and hematite from ferrihydrite. Clays Clay Miner. 31:277–284.
Tardy, Y., and D. Nahon. 1985. Geochemistry of Laterites. Stability of Al-goethite, Al-hematite and Fe3+-kaolinite in bauxites and ferricretes. An approach of the mechanism of the concretion formation. Am. J. Sci. 285: 865–903.
Zeegers, H., and J. C. Leprun. 1979. Evolution des concepts en altérologie tropicale et conséquences potentielles pour la prospection géochimique en Afrique occidentale soudano-sahélienne. Bull. BRGM, II, 2:229–239.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1988 D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Herbilion, A.J., Nahon, D. (1988). Laterites and Laterization Processes. In: Stucki, J.W., Goodman, B.A., Schwertmann, U. (eds) Iron in Soils and Clay Minerals. NATO ASI Series, vol 217. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4007-9_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4007-9_22
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8278-5
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4007-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive