Laterite and lateritic soils in Sierra Leone

(1) The formation of laterite and lateritic soils in Sierra Leone has been studied and the mode of formation and the composition of these soils is described. (2) It is suggested that since the clay fraction is regarded as the most important fraction in determining the reactions of a soil the classification of laterite and lateritic soils should be based on an examination of the clay fraction. It is further suggested that where the silica/alumina ratio in the clay fraction falls below 2·0 the soil should be described as “lateritic,” and where this ratio falls below 1·33 the soil should be described as laterite.