Laterite and Laterization - A Geomorphological Review

Laterite is a typical rock formation found commonly in the tropical monsoon regions as a capping over the hillocks. Laterites are residual sedimentary rocks, reddish or brownish coloured, comparatively soft rocks, containing high degree of porosity and are carrying vermiform structures. Laterite brick is generally red in color. In vernacular, it is called as chenkallu. Laterite has immense economic value as it contains the ores of iron, aluminium and manganese. The origin of laterite is intimately connected with the physical, climatic and denudational processes of a particular region. The laterization process operates at well under warm and humid warm and tropical climates with seasonal rainfall. Though many hypotheses have been advanced by different geomorphologists, the origin of the laterite is as yet a much debated question. Present investigation is an attempt to analyse the empirical observations on Laterite and laterization from a geographical perspective.