In the semi-arid region of Central Bahia, the weathering cover above a concealed migmatite-diabase contact consisting of a loose sandy-clayey surface layer and an indurated gravelly laterite shows distinct chemical and mineralogical relationships to the underlying parent rocks. High concentrations of Fe, V, Mn, Cu, Co and Ni characterize the weathering material above the diabase. In the overlying laterite layer, a chemical dispersion of most of these elements towards the migmatite can be observed. On the other hand, the weathering material above the diabase shows abundance of primary quartz, zircon and rutile derived from the migmatite. The evolution of the weathering cover is believed to be controlled by colluvial intermixing and vertical homogenization of partly transported weathering material, being followed by lateral chemical dispersion during laterite formation. Thus, the weathering horizons obliterate the chemical signal of the parent rocks increasingly from the bottom to the top of the profile. Similar profiles can be expected in most savannah-type regions and, therefore their identification is relevant for geochemical exploration.

The Belterra Clay in Northern Brazil is a uniform, yellowish, unstratified kaolinitic clay with variable contents of gibbsite. It is generally 5–10 m thick and covers a lateritic weathering crust on remnants of a dissected table-land. Complete profiles with Belterra Clay, the underlying bauxite/laterite and saprolite/bed rock were sampled in three areas of the Amazon region. The chemical and mineralogical data show a distinct affinity between the Belterra Clay and the underlying layers above all with the saprolite. Variations in the composition of the underlaying layers are reflected by the Belterra Clay. Among the structural and textural features important for the discussion of the origin of the Belterra Clay are the sharp contact between the clay cover and the underlying laterite as well as conglomeritic/brecciate textures and occasional bedding structure in the upper part of the lateritic crust.

The recently discovered lateritic nickel ore deposit on the summit area of the Tagaung Taung contains about 40 million DMT nickel-saprolite ore with approximately 2% Ni. The serpentinite massif is covered with a thick weathering mantle consisting of saprolite, limonite, and an allochthonous lateritic surface layer. The thickness, nickel content, and physical properties of the ore are very variable. The main minerals in the nickel saprolite ore are nickeliferous serpentine and smectite. Microprobe analyses show a strong depletion of Mg with increasing nickel content in the serpentine minerals; smectite generally contains less nickel than serpentine. Chemical analyses of samples from more than 100 drill holes are used to calculate the mean chemical compositions, mean accumulation factors, and gain and loss of major and trace elements for the various layers. This permits a quantitative approach to be made to the genetic history of the weathering mantle. Gain and loss determinations on the basis of constant chromium content and of constant volume give nearly identical results for the saprolite layer. Calculations on the basis of Ni/Cr ratios indicate that three-quarters of a former 20-m-thick limonite layer has been eroded away. Only the lower part of the original limonite layer with a relatively high SiO2 content is preserved. The kaolinite- and illite-rich surface layer is a mixture of limonite and weathered clayey material, which was probably derived from adjacent rocks. Part of the autochthonous weathering section is contaminated with infiltrated allochthonous surface material. It is not possible that colluvial-alluvial deposition of clayey material from nonultramafic rocks could have taken place under the present geomorphic regime. Thus, lateritization of the serpentinite and deposition of siallitic material must have occurred before exposure of the Tagaung Taung in its present form.

Lateritische Eisen-, Nickel- und Manganerze entstehen aus Gesteinen, die bereits einen relativ hohen Gehalt am entsprechenden Element aufweisen. Über Ultrabasiten (ca. 13% Fe2O3 und bis 0,2% Ni) entstanden besonders Fe-reiche Verwitterungsdecken, die aber nur als Nickelerz wirtschaftliche Bedeutung erlangten. Neben der lateritischen Rückstandanreicherung (relat. Anreicherung) wird besonders das leichter lösliche Nickel deszendent bewegt und im tieferen Profilbereich konzentriert (absol. Anreicherung). Je nach der Lage des Ni-Maximums im Verwitterungsprofil lassen sich drei Lagerstättentypen unterscheiden. Lateritische Manganerze entstanden aus sedimentär gebildeten, meist metamorph überprägten Mangan-protores (Gondite, Rhodochrosite), die mitunter schon primär bauwürdig sind. Die lateritische Verwitterung der meist steil einfallenden Protore-Linsen ist mit einer beträchtlichen deszendenten Manganverlagerung verbunden; gleichzeitig wird durch Erosion das Niveau des Nebengesteins erniedrigt. Bauxite sind über ganz unterschiedlichen Gesteinen bekannt. Besonders begünstigt sind Al-reichere Gesteine mit einem niedrigen Gehalt an Eisen und verwitterungsresistenten Mineralen (z. B. Nephelinsyenit und Kaolin). Tone, Tonschiefer und Gneise verwittern trotz eines günstigen Al2O3:Fe2O3-Verhältnisses häufig zu Fe-reichen Lateriten; die damit verbundene Lösung des Aluminiums könnte auf pH-Erniedrigung infolge geringer Pyritgehalte zurückgeführt werden. Die chemischen Beziehungen zwischen den durch lateritische Verwitterung angereicherten Erzen und ihren Ausgangsgesteinen werden diskutiert.