THE laterization is a kind of weathering chemical that acts mainly on soils, being responsible for the appearance of a rusty crust on them. You soils formed by this process are called lateritic and the formed rock blocks are called by laterites.
In addition to being considered a type of weathering, the laterization of soils is also understood as a pedogenetic process, that is, it is related to the dynamics of formation and transformation of the ground. The lateritic soils formed by this phenomenon maintain a red, yellow, brown or orange coloration, although not all soils that have these colors are necessarily of this type.
Basically, the laterization process consists of enriching the surface with hydrated oxides of iron or aluminum. With this, there is an increase in the concentration of kaolinite, which is a type of clay mineral, that is, a mineral composed precisely of the oxides mentioned.
In some cases, when a large amount of laterized surface layer is formed, it is called laterite carapace, laterite yoke
or laterite crust. In this type of occurrence, the composition of a dense, hardened and large surface area of ferruginous or aluminous formation is noted.At causes of laterization they may be associated with natural processes (soils that are heavily worn by time) or anthropogenic, of which highlight fires and deforestation, which remove surface protection and fail to provide materials Organic. Between the consequences of laterization, the difficulty offered for root penetration is mentioned, in addition to the increase in unproductivity, a recurrent problem in the Amazon region. Currently, the laterization process is also quite intense in the region of thick Brazilian.
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The formation of lateritic soils is more common in regions with a humid or sub-humid climate in tropical or subtropical areas. Thus, the presence, even in small amounts, of laterite in regions that do not have such types can serve as an indication that the location in question had such climates in the past. geologically recent.
The laterite formed by the aforementioned process can be economically useful. In regions with limited availability of suitable materials, it can be used in buildings through the manufacture of blocks and bricks. In addition, it can also be used in asphalting techniques or even transformed into other minerals through the enrichment of compounds such as iron, aluminum and nickel.
Rock blocks formed by laterite
By Me. Rodolfo Alves Pena
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PENA, Rodolfo F. Alves. "Laterization of soils"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/laterizacao-dos-solos.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
geography of Brazil
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