1. Plural of laterization; the process by which rock or soil is converted into laterite, a weathered material rich in iron and aluminum oxides, typically occurring in tropical and subtropical climates.
Usage: technical; geology; soil science

Examples

• The laterizations of tropical soils create thick deposits of iron-rich material.
• Geologists study laterizations to understand weathering patterns in warm, humid regions.
• Laterizations are responsible for the formation of bauxite ore deposits in many tropical areas.
• The process of laterizations can take thousands of years to produce economically significant ore bodies.