『Abstract
Severe weathering processes acting on bedrock cause enrichment
of Al, Fe and Ti and depletion of Si, forming ferruginous and
bauxitic duricrusts. Although this process is more common in the
inter-tropical belt, buxitic duricrsts also occur in other climatic
regions. To relate the environment influences weathering in distinct
climatic region, we studied profiles developed on igneous rock
from two sites: Pitinga, located in the northwest Brazilian Amazonia,
and in Boddington, in southwestern Australia. Both sites are in
long term stable tectonic Precambrian shields and during the last
100 Ma northwest Brazilian Amazonian experienced warm and seasonal
low latitude conditions, whereas Australia migrated from a cool
climate in high latitudes to the drier modern conditions in the
lower latitudes. Under these distinct climate conditions both
sites have similar regolith horizons upward consisting of saprolite,
hard bauxite zone and pisolitic duricrust. However, covering these
horizons, Pitinga has a clayey topsoil, whereas Boddington has
a loose covering of a lag. These important differences in the
upper bauxite zone in both sites concern a second aluminization
which reflects the superposition of subsequent intense leaching
process but as consequence of the contrasting modern climatic
conditions: tropical warm and humid at Pitinga and a Mediterranean
climate at Boddington. This modern climate in both sites has caused
more extensive differences in the weathering product than the
time and condition necessary for the initial bauxite development.
Keywords: Chemical composition; Climatic influences; Lateritic
weathering; Ferruginous pisoliths』
1. Introduction
2. Geology, climate and vegetation contexts
3. Materials and methods
4. Main characteristics of the profiles
4.1. The Pitinga profile - Brazil
4.2. The Boddington profiles - Australia
4.3. Geochemistry of the profiles
5. Genetic evolution
6. Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References