noun
- reddish soils and rock formations rich in iron and aluminum oxides, typically found in tropical regions with heavy rainfall
Usage: geology; plural form of laterite
Examples
- The laterites in this region make farming challenging due to their poor nutrient content.
- Geologists studied the laterites to understand the area’s weathering patterns.
- Many tropical countries have extensive laterite deposits.
- The red color of laterites comes from iron oxide concentrations.
- Construction workers avoided building on laterites because of drainage issues.
- Laterites form when intense weathering leaches away silica and other minerals.