CHAPTER 3

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LATERITES

 53

3. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LATERITES

'Laterite' is a typical geological material developed due to the

reconstitution of the mineral of the parent rocks chemically ustable
in the operating thermodynamic conditions. During weathering most
of the parent mterials chemically’ break down from which mobile
components like Mg, Ca, Na, K and SiC^ try to leach out while less
mobile elements like !.Fe, Al, Ti, Mn are retained as insoluble
residues of oxides and hydroxides mixed with certain percentage
of clay minerals. The residual product is variable both physically
and chemically. In this chapter the physical features of the late-
rites are described, It may be stressed that these features are
directly related to the chemical transformations that undergo during
lateritisation. The transformation from parent rock to laterite
is not abrupt, but gradational and/or gradual. Several intermediate
stages can be seen from parent rock to the end product (laterite/
bauxite) giving rise to a typical profile except in the case of
banded hematite quartzite, shales and sandstones where the under­
lying altered zone is well defined and clearcut.

The laterites vary in colour, texture, structure, morphology and

engineering properties as do they vary in their chemistry and
mineralogy.

3.1 LATERITE PROFILE

Laterite profiles are well observed in natural cuttings, other

artificial faces where it is possible to see the gradual trnsfor-
mation of a country rock to the final duricrust.

The first stage of the weathering cycle is the decomposition or

weathering of rocks. Rocks belonging to all the three main classes
igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic participate in this process.
Weathering consists of a number of processes that gradually break
down the fresh solid rocks into an aggregate of loose materials,
some of which goes into solution, while others succumb to chemical
changes.
 55

As a result of decomposition of the parent rock and selective migra­

tion of elements, a profile of weathering develops having a zoned
sequence of mineral and chemical composition along the vertical
from slightly altered parent rock to perfectly transformed laterite/
bauxite on the surface of earth.

The profile of the weathering mantle is usually determined by the

degree of decomposition of the rock forming silicates, which is
found from the intensity of the leaching of silica, which in turn
is the ratio of the silicon, iron and aluminium in mineral mass
of the mantle of weathering.

Polynov (1934), Sedletsky (1941), Ginsburg (1963) and others distin­

guished three profiles in the mantle of weathering. The first is
called the saturated siallitic or hydromica profile. The second
profile is called unsaturated siallitic or clay. The third profile
is called allite or laterite. Aleva (1983) described these three
distinctly zoned horizons and their interfaces above the fresh
parent rock. From the surface downward,they are (see also Fig.3.la).

Interface I : the Earth's surface

(i) Soil; mostly rich in organic material.

Interface II : top laterite.

(ii) Laterite, generally with a harder, ferruginous upper

part and a softer, less ferruginous lower part.

Interface III : gibbsite front.

(iii) Saprolite; sectile to plastic, with most parent

rock textures reatined as relicts

Interface IV : the weathering front

(iv) Parent rock; fresh or incipiently attacked by wea­

thering .

It has been observed that the weathering front is characterised

by alteration of the primary silicates mainly through reactions
of hydrate and hydrolytic transformation without any essential
 56

migration of silica. In a belt of this profile the typomorphic

minerals are hydromicas and hydrochlorites and some beidellite and
montmorillonite.

The saprolite profile is distinguished by a certain deficiency of

.silica, a great'deal of which has been removed from the weathering
mantle. The typomorphic minerals are kaolinite, halloysite,
nontronite and quartz.

In the laterite profile complete or nearly complete disruption of

the bonds between alumina and silica is specific, with intensive
migration of these minerals from the weathering mantle. The
typomorphic minerals are aluminium hydroxides (gibbsite), iron
hydroxides (goethite) and iron oxides (hematite) and some
metahalloysite (kaolinite etc.).

Some examples of laterite profiles developed on different rocks

of Orissa are presented below:

(i) Laterite/bauxite profile at Panchpatmali has been derived

from the parent rock, khondalite. The laterite/bauxite capping is
found to retain as relicts, certain primary textures of parent rock
e.g. foliation, joints indicating lateritisation/bauxitisation in
situ. Fig. 3.1b shows typical laterite profile of Panchpatmali in
which the following formations are seen:
 57

Upper laterite

Laterite occurs as overburden. Subsurface data reveal that the

development of laterite is prominent on the flat parts of the
capping and also in topographic 'highs', maximum thickness being
13.30 m. Laterite capping is thinner on steep slopes/gradients.

Bauxite

Bauxite is mostly recorded in the subsurface and along escarpment.

Maximum thickness recorded in the boreholes is 31.40 m. The pale
buff to creamy white coloured bauxite is mostly of high grade and
is recorded mostly in the subsurface. Bauxite, pale pink in
colour and with a clayey appearance, has been found to occur
towards the lower part of the bauxite zone.

Lower laterite

A lower laterite horizon with variable thickness exhists at places

in between lithomarge and bauxite as seen in Fig.3.lb.

Lithomarge

The lower part of the bauxite/laterite zone is followed by a

transition zone of lithomarge. Typically, the lithomarge has a wide
range in colour, from white, yellow and variegated shades of pink.
Kaolinite is the dominant mineral in this horizon. The alumina
content in general is low. High silica and Low are the other
characteristics of the horizon. The presence of lithomarge/clay
in flat or shallow depression of the profile is discernible from
a study of the cross-section.
 58

Khondalite

Partially leached and altered khondalitic parent rock is mostly under­

lying the lithomarge/clay then followed by fresh khondalite. The
khondalite is varicoloured grey, buff and pale pink. Relicts as well
as altered garnets are seen. The foliae in khondalite usually show
thin bands of clay. Admixture of lithomarge is common in the altered
khondalite. Khondalite in the weathered zone is characterised by
partial leaching and alteration leading to development of gibbsite
at place.

(ii) Fig. 3.1c represents laterite-khondalite profile at Laxmipur

in Koraput district. Here, top soil is very thin underlain by
laterite without bauxite, then followed by kaolinite/lithomarge and
the parent rock "Khondalite".

(iii) Fig. 3.Id represents a typical vertical profile of Dholkata

Pahar near Kuanr where weathering of the meta-tholeiitic basalt has
given rise to a thick lateritic mantle, within which bauxite is found
as seggregations and tabular bodies of impersistent lenses and
pockets. The profile from flat top to bottom indicates that a thin
mantle of lateritic soil averaging 0.5 m thickness is underlain by
laterites and bauxite varying in thickness upto a maximum of 18 m.
Laterites are dark brown, chestnut brown and reddish brown in colour.
Bauxite varies in colour from buff, cream to brown. The bauxite at
depth grades into lithomargic clay to a depth of about 29 m followed
by altered trap rock as encountered in the boreholes. Metavolcanics
are also exposed on the,nala cuttings and in the lower levels. They
are fine grained and of greenish black to greyish black in colour.

(iv) Ultramafite-derived laterites have a zonal profile development

somewhat deviating from the standard profile.Generally ultramafic
parent rofck is completely altered, presumably by a hydrothermal
process and not a subaerial weathering into serpentinite, which then
subaerially weathers into a siliceous saprolite with Mg-bearing clay
 59

Fig.3.lb A typical laterite profile over khondalite.

Loc. Panchpatmali (Koraput).

Fig.3.1c Laterite cut section in khondalite terrain.

Loc. Laxmipur (Koraput).
 60

minerals besides variable amounts of' iron (hydr) oxides and little
or no kaolinite. Exceptionally thick weathering profiles, averaging
in depth around 85m in Kansa and reaching to depths upto 150m have
been noted in the Sukinda ultramafic field.

The zone of weathering shows the following sequence. (Fig. 3.1e).

5. Soil : 3m (maximum)

4. Hard ferruginous duricrust laterally grading into dis­

integrated laterite on slopping grounds : 14m (maximum).

3. Loose clayey zone : 1.5m (maximum)

2. Nickel rich goethite, saprolite with relict magmatic'

layering, irregular pods of talc-montmorillonitq and
veined/interbanded in the lower parts with loosely
to densely bound silica and chromite lenses and seams,
mineralogically affected. Thickness 120m (maximum)
as intersected in boreholes.

1. Serpentinite and dunite carrying chromite, magnetite,

asbestos etc.

Laterite cappings of this field can be divided into five types.

Fig. 3.If shows generalised distribution pattern of laterites south­
west of Kansa.

Type (A) : It occurs as flat to gently sloping pavements and dis­

continuous layer of top soil. These crusts vary in
thickness from less than six centimetres to 12 metres
at places. The laterite is brown to brick red in colour
and is made up of hematite and goethite with subordinate
amount of magnetite. Angular fragments of chromite
and subrounded boulders of quartzite in the upper part
of the laterite profiles indicate that this type of
laterite includes both.' transported and residual compo­
nents .

Type (B) : This type is mostly developed on a basement of limoni-

tised rocks. It is orange, brown, brick red or steel
 61

grey in colour. Prominent minerals are goethite and

kaolinite with variable amount of hematite and quartz,
minute traces of magnetite and localised concentrations
of flaky illite. Thickness of this variety is- more
than 11m at places e.g. to the south-west of Kansa
in the second mound from the north.

Type (C) : It occurs along the slopes of the mounds and beneath
latosol in the plains. It is made up of angular to
sub-angular pebbles of vesicular laterite and partly
lateritised ultramafites set in a silty matrix. The
association of angular pebbles of vesicular laterite
with rounded boulders suggests that this type is compo­
sed of variable admixtures of residual and transported
material.

Type (D) : It is associated with type (C) and is made up of loosely

bound, pale buff to reddish brown iron oxide pisolites
with silty matrix. Individual concretions are made
up of a hard outer shell of hematite and goethite,
veining into the kernel . of goethite and kaolinite.
It occurs both above and below type (C) as well as
locally below type (B).

Type (D) : It is found only beneath or laterally grading into

type (B) and is characterised by tubular voids, partly
filled up with granular soil.

The geological set up of the five types of laterites can be broadly

represented by the following three composite profiles:

Profile I Profile II Profile III

Soil 5.0m Soil 3.0m Hard and massive laterite.
Concretionary Concretionary Cavernous laterite
laterite 60 cm. laterite 50 cm.
Silicified ultra- Disintegrated laterite Lateritised bed rock
mafite. with boulders of
massive laterite 2.0m
Conretionary Limonitised/Silicified
laterite k40 cm. rock.
Soft clay rich
layer 2.32 m.
Limonitised/silicified/
serpentine rock.
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Lateritic soil.

L • t
Lalerile and bauxite
"SSI Laterite

Clayey zone
18-50
18-SO ■

Saprolite
Uthomqrgic clay.

29 00 -

A - A _ A _ A

- A - A _ A »t = m a ,7,
l«sr /// = //, = Fresh rock.
A - A _ A _ A Trap rock (melatholeifc basalt.) Ill ■= III i
»/2
- A _ A _ A
Fig.3.le Generalised vertical profile of
nlckellferous laterltes (Suklnda)
n..r Ku„„,

Fig. 3.lf A : Low level lalerile crusls, B : Lalerlle cappings on hillocks, C : Dislnfegraled lalerile
 64

(v) Fig. 3.1g shows a schematic vertical profile of Banded Iron

Formation of Bolani. There are two roughly parallel iron ore-banded
iron silica rocks running along the stretch of Bolani. Laterite
of considerable thickness (3 to 12m) but not constant areal extent
occurs over these formations. In some trial, pits and bore holes
the laterite has been found underlain by tuffaceous shale.

(vi) Laterite crusts developed over granites/gneisses appear to

be generally, thinner, less continuous and slightly more plastic
.in character (Fig. 3.1h). Massive and concretionary forms occur,
but generally the crust is either vehicular or displays a crude
lamellar structure which is ..'.sub-parrallel with the surface. Clay
content increases with depth and weak plastic soils are invariably
to be found in the laterite profile beneath the crusts. This corres­
ponds to the mottled zone. Here,the granite is generally porphyritic
with abundance of feldspar and has undergone extensive weathering.
Due to prolonged weathering and diagenesis, the feldspars of these
rocks are kaolinised resulting in the formation of china clay
deposits.

(vii) Rocks around Bhubaneswar are composed .up of Archaean crysta­

llines (khondalite, quartzite, garnetiferous gneisses) overlain
by upper Gondwana sandstones. These upper Gondwana sandstones are
extensively lateritised to give rise to a duricrust of variable
thickness from 0 to 20 m (Fig. 3.1i) and of variable physical chara­
cters, e.g. hard pisolitic to cavernous laterites and loose gravelly
to clayey silt laterite soil. Laterite is brick red,brown to locally
vermillion in colour.

3.2 MORPHOLOGIC VARIETIES

A wide variety of structures and morphologies are noticed in the

lateritic/bauxitic materials.

Structures deal with larger rock features such as layering, columnar

features, pillows etc.
 65

Fig.3.lh Weathering profile over granites.

Loc. Joshipur (Mayurbhanj).

Fig.3.li Laterite capping over Upper Gondwana sandstone.

Loc. Bhubaneswar \Puri).
 66

Aleva (1982) proposed to differentiate structures and textures

as follows: ‘

i. Relict structures, derived from the unweathered

parent rock,

ii. Syngenetic, lateritic or weathering structures

and textures:

a. The early structures formed during the ini­

tial stages of lateritic weathering differ­
entiating into an iron-rich top layer and
an iron poor lower layer.

b. The late syngenetic structures and textures

in which over-printing destroys the early
structures and which in places can be related
to specific younger phases of the continuing
lateritisation process.

iii. Epigenetic or post-lateritic structures and

textures which are related to the destruction
of. a laterite-bauxite mantle e.g. the rekaolini-
sation that may result from a younger sedimentary
cover.

In many laterites and bauxites a distinction can be made between

structural and textural components on the basis of internal grain
size (a textural parameter).

Some structural and textural features observed in Orissa laterites/

bauxites are described as under:

1. Structures

i. Major structures

The bauxites and laterites developed insitu retain the

continuity of the structural features like foliation and
schistosity of the bed rock.
 67

Layered structure

Tabular structure or succession of the different components

(mineralogical, textural, structural) in a rock.

Banded structure

Resulting from the alteration of layers, stripes, flat

lenses or streaks differing conspicuously in (mineral)
composition, texture and/or colour.

Blocky structure

Irregularly shaped or fracture bounded lumps and masses,

in decimetre to metre size, of relatively homogeneous
material in a more clayey or banded to layered matrix.

ii. Minor structures

The following minor structures are observed in almost

all laterites of Orissa.

Boxwork

A network of intersecting blades, plates or septa, the

enclosed space may be empty or filled with mineral matter
e.g. clay.

Coated grains, coated surface

Grains possessing concentric or enclosing layers(gibbsitic,

goethitic or hematitic in composition) disposed about

a central nucleus, the volume ratio of nucleus to coating

may be highly variable. The surface coatings appear on
the faces of cracks, joints and sometimes bedding planes
and have a smooth, somewhat knobby surface towards the
open space and are intimately intergrown with their ■ subs^-
tratum.

Filled structures

Randomly or systematically oriented fractures filled with

pelitomorphous, collomorphous or dense mineral matter,
thickness generally not exceeding several millimeter.
 68

Buchanan-type structure

Topotype laterite structure18composed of a knotty mass

of bent, sinuous and contorted tubular features, upto

1 cm in diameter, enclosing dense to granular masses with
concentrically arranged vivid colours that form the main
mass of the rock; the tubular features and other intersti­
tial voids are frequently lined with cream coloured
coatings.

II. Textures

Laterites derived from sandstones (Bhubaneswar) exibit numerous

voids. The voids developed by congruent dissolution of kaolinite
and are still noticeable as spotted white kernels within vermillion
patches. Ferruginous and peripheral zoning laterites are observed
in Forest Park area of Bhubaneswar. Hard pisolitic to cavernous
laterites are also seen over sandstones.

Laterites over granite/gneiss exhibit massive concretionary, vesi­

cular and lamellar textures in Karanjia-Joshipur area.

Laterites of different types like massive cavernous, vesicular,

concretionary and disintegrated pisolites are observed over Iron
Ore Formations in Keonjhar region and Ultramafics around Sukinda,
Nausahi and Simlipal.

Bauxite/laterite of different types like massive and disintegrated .

(as seen in Simlipal region), spongy, cellular and oolitic are
seen over metavolcanics in Kuanr and Simlipal region.

East coast bauxite exhibit massive to spongy and vermicular textures

while llaterites are cavernous. These bauxite/laterite deposits
are formed over khondalites and charnockites.

Some of the above morphological varieties are presented in sketches.

Fig. 3.2a Vermicular laterite and bauxite from Panchpatmali

(Koraput)

Laterite capping of Panchpatmali is cavernous and vermicular in

texture and brown to dark brown in colour. The dominant iron
 69

minerals include hematite and goethite with infillings of clay

within the cavities. Tiny crystals of gibbsite are found in a red
ferruginous ground mass.

Bauxite is massive to spongy and vermicular in texture. It is

.made up of mostly of shinning tiny crystals of greyish white gibb­
site found in a red ferruginous ground mass. Hematite and goethite
are in subordinate amounts.

Fig. 3.2b Ferruginous and Peripheral zoned laterite from Forest

Park area (Bhubaneswar)

It shows that former fragmental laterite has been completely recemen­

ted by iron hydroxides with a distinctive zonal structure.Presumably
the origin of laterite horizons of this type was derived from
lateral sesquioxide enrichment and as such these may be ground
water laterites. These are essentially composed of geothite and
kaolinite with relict quartz and traces of illite.

Fig. 3.2c Pisolitic laterite from Sukinda area (Cuttack)

It is made up of loosely bound, pale, buff to redish brown iron

oxide posilites with silty matrix. Individual concretions are made
up of a hard outer shell of hematite and goethite, veining into
the kernel of goethite and kaolinite. It is found along the slopes
of the mounds and in the plains associated with angular to sub-
angular pebbles of vesicular laterite and partly lateritised ultra-
mafites set in a silty matrix.

3.3 COLOUR

A vary wide spectrum of colour is seen in the laterites and bauxi­

tes. Colour is dependant on type of oxides, hydroxides and trace
element concentrations. The colour varies from black through red,
brown, yellow to light yellow or shades of many found together.

3.4 GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS

A major portion of the State is covered by laterites and lateritic

soils (laterites ultimately weather to loose lateritic soil). A
 t \J

Vermlculs

Ferruginous, light brown

sandstone

Fig,3.2b. Ferruginous and peripheral zoned laterfte from Forest-

park area (Bhubaneswar}

I. Ferruginous pisolites, 2. Banded plsallles

comprising hemallle, goethlle, 3. Fragmenls
of hemallle,goelhlte Impregnoled with
Kaollnlle, 4. Silly matrix
 71

series of papers dealing with various aspects of engineering proper­

ties and field performance are well edited in two volumes by Moh
(1969). Comprehensive engineering study has also been carried out
by Gidigasu (1976) and many others. Now, more attention is being

paid to understand the engineering characters of the laterites

for their efficient use in construction Industry.

The distribution of the alumina and iron in different grain sizes

is not uniform. A tendency was observed for alumina to concentrate
in the clay fraction and iron in the concretions. The intermediate
fraction is heterogeneous. It is mostly kaolinitic.

As building materials laterites occur in the following two principal

forms:
I. Unconsolidated form
II. Consolidated form.

I. Unconsolidated form includes coarse lateritic materials (of

the durability characteristics) of gravel and sand size and
the fines with plasticity characteristics of the clay and
silt fractions.

Lateritic gravel

Lateritic materials in a horizon containing pisolitic laterite

with high percentages of particle size distribution, greater
than 2.5 cm. The gravel size particles tend to degrade under
repeated loading caused by compaction equipment and traffic.

Lateritic soil

Laterites ultimately weather to loose laterite soil. It may

be of any physical composition, in which the majority, by
weight, of the sample is composed of hardened laterite of
any form.

Silt

In the dark chocolate to purple red laterites a crumbly texture

appears of a sand or silt. The "grains" are formed by aggre­
gation of clay size particles, mainly iron oxide, which, under
 72

mechanical action, break down so that the soil assumes a highly

sticky and plastic feel.

Clay

This horizon predominantly consists of fine clayey particles.

Montmorillonite is present in areas where drainage is poor
while kaolinite predominates where drainage is fair to good.
Other minerals include illite, smectite, chlorite etc.

II. Consolidated laterite

This is a massive horizon containing;

i. Ground water laterites

ii. Nodular or concretionary laterites
iii. Iron stone hard' pans or cap rock
iv. Colluvial and terrace laterites.

Mineralogy and chemical composition of laterites and lateritic

soils are important aspects often employed by soil scientists.
There exist significant variation of geotechnical properties of
laterites and lateritic soils over a wide range and within a given
deposit both vertically and laterally. These properties are influ­
enced considerably by the weathering processes, post formation
changes, degree of desiccation and chemical and mineralogical compo­
sition.

For evaluating the geotechnical properties following characteristics

should be taken care of;

i. The character of the clay fraction may vary over a wide range
even though the gradation of a group of laterite is the same.
The laterite clay with high iron content contributes to the
high strength and low compressibility of the soil. When clay
fraction are more in soil, fall of strength is sharp on incre­
ase of moisture content. From the point of view of strength
generally small proportions of clay, 3-8 percent, are benefi­
cial for stabilisation, due to extra strength provided by
the pozzolanic reaction of clay mineral with lime.The presence
of higher concentration of clay are rather detrimental.
 73

ix. Laterite aggregate is not uniform in strength or toughness

and may vary from hard to soft in a deposit depending upon
the concentration of sesquioxides (Fe^O^ + A^O^). Laterite
and lateritic soils containing high propertion of aluminium
oxide show a decrease in strength. With increase of iron
hydroxide/oxide its strength improves.

iii. Laterites are nearly always gap graded-gravel and clay size
particles predominate with little sand or silt size present.
The. suitability indices generally decreases as the quality
of gravel deteriorates and increases when the quality of
material improves.

iv. When first exposed, laterite is soft enough to be easily

excavated with a pick axe and shaped with a trowel.On exposure
to air it hardens. This was first recorded by Buchanan :in
1807 in west Malabar. Upon dehydration it will first loose
free water, then the clay layers, containing bound water,
will begin to collapse. At some dehydration state the geothite
and kaolinite will be brought together by.electrostatic attra­
ction with the ensuing formation of secondary bonding. The
degree and reversibility of hardening would be dependant
upon the amount and ratio of kaolinite and goethite present
in the soil, the cation population of the water in the soil
and possibly by the degree of hydration and crystalline state
of the ferric oxide in the soil.

Some of the important tests to evaluate geotechnical properties

include:
i. Plasticity characteristics

There are a number of factors which should be considered

in the determination of Atterberg limits (liquid limit,plastic
limit, plasticity index)' of lateritic soils. When water is
, added to the soil it tends to disintegrate the particles
into smaller ones with an increase in the specific surface.
Increase in specific surface of a soil leads to high absorp­
tion of water that changes the limit values. Indian Standard
(IS) : 3620-1979 specifies water absorption not more than
 75

12 percent by mass for laterite stone block for masonry.

Two samples tested.for the purpose show results as indicated

in table 3.4.

ii. Moisture-Density characteristics

The moisture-density relationships for lateritic soils are

influenced by the factors like grading, the predominant clay

mineral, crushing strength of coarse material, the degree

of weathering and the placement conditons of the material.

Test results of two samples are appended in table 3.4.

iii. Swelling characteristics

Some lateritic soils contain significant proportion of clay

minerals that are not susceptible to swelling. A low swelling

t

seems to be a specific characteristic of lateritic soils,

even when the,, .liquid _and plastic limits are high. The upper

limit of the swelling of lateritic soils should not exceed

10 percent.

iv. Strength characteristics

Soil samples, collected from a large number of localities

from foundation levels and classified into three major groups;

Clayey gravels (GC), Clayey sands (SC) and Silty Clays (Cl).

A correlation of these classes with plate load data shows

certain significant features (Mahalik and Das, 1982.). The

coarser gravels show higher safe loads, 5 kg/cmz ,the finer

silty clays show lower safe load, 1 kg/cm2 and the clayey

sands show heterogeneous values, sometimes behaving as coarse

soils and at other as finer soils.

Loadnaet-tlement .obs.ervatiojis__(Fig. 3.4)show two different categories

of curves, in one group the settlements~'are~-higher^ at lower loads.

They refer to silty clays and fragile laterite rock and in the

other group of curves which shoot off the settlement axis show

very little settlement for higher loads.These represent the gravelly

soils and hard massive rocks.

 76

Table 3.4 Atterberg limits, soaked CBR% and moisture-density characteristics.

SI. Location of Percentage of grain size distribution * Liquid Plastic Plasti- Soaked 1
Optimum Maximum dry
No. sample. 10mm 4 .75mm 2mm 425 75 limit limit city CBR% moisture density (MDD)
micron micron L.L.% P.L.% index content gm/cc .

CU
M
o
(OMC)%

1. Bhubaneswar-T 89.4 53.2 31.6 18.1 14.6 50 28 22 16.3 13 1.97

(Around Khan-
dagiri)

2. Bhubaneswar-II 94.6 54.9 27.9 16.8 15.5 47 28 19 14.55 12 2.11

(Around Patia)
* % passing through selves.
 77

Like the loose soils, laterite also vary very much' in their texture,
morphology and density and show wide variation in strength and defor­
mation characteristics. The compressive strength, of the laterites
are widely variable and depends upon many factors such as lithology,
voids and moisture content.

Because of its extensive occurrence, lateritic soil finds much use

in road construction to form embackment and sub-base of the pavement
structure. The properties which control their performance in highways
are their gradation, plasticity and soaked CBR. To comply with the
IRC specifications the soil may be blended with sand, lime or cement
to improve its quality.

Laterite blocks have been widely used from historical times in various
types of temples, buildings, boundary walls and coastal protection
structures. These rocks are widely used in Konark temple, Lingaraj
temple, Sisupalgarh of Orissa State as flooring slabs, walls, small
temples etc.