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Laterite
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Laterite

Laterite (from the Latin word later, meaning. “brick” or “tile”) is a surface formation that is enriched in iron and aluminium. Found mainly in hot, wet tropical areas, it develops by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock.

Composition
Laterite is a weathered material that’s rich in iron and aluminum oxides. It’s usually rusty-red in color due to its high iron oxide content.
Formation
Laterite is formed when rock weathers and undergoes mineral transformations. This process involves the removal of bases and a significant loss of combined silica from primary minerals.
Types
Laterite can be classified into different types based on the dominant extractable minerals, such as aluminous laterite, ferruginous laterite, manganiferous laterite, nickeliferous laterite, and chromiferous laterite.
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SOURCES OF LATERITE

Laterite is a residual ferruginous rock that is formed in tropical regions due to intense leaching. This leaching is caused by high temperatures and heavy rainfall, which removes lime and silica from the soil and leaves behind iron oxide and aluminum compounds. Laterite is rich in iron and aluminum, but poor in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate, and calcium.

 

WHAT IS LATERITE USED FOR

Laterite has many uses, including:

Construction: Laterite is used in the construction of light structures, partition walls, and boundary walls. It can also be used in road construction, embankments, and structural fill. Laterite is soft when quarried, making it easy to cut and dress into blocks and bricks. 

Cement industry: Laterite is used as an additive in cement to lower the clinkerization temperature and supplement aluminous and iron contents. 

Sewage treatment: Laterite is used in sewage-treatment facilities to remove phosphorus and heavy metals. 

 

Aluminum ore: Laterite is a source of aluminum ore, which exists largely in clay minerals and the hydroxides, gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore. 
Colorants: Laterite is used in the plastic and rubber industries as a colorant. 
Red oxide powder substitute: Laterite is used as a red oxide powder substitute. 

Welding fluxes manufacturing: Laterite is used in welding fluxes manufacturing. 

 

Brake lining: Laterite is used in brake lining. 

 

Ferrous-alloys manufacturing: Laterite is used in ferrous-alloys manufacturing.

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