Saprolite
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Saprolite is a chemically weathered rock. Saprolites form in the lower zones of soil profiles and represent deep weathering of the bedrock surface. In most outcrops, its color comes from ferric compou
A represents soil; B represents laterite, a regolith; C represents saprolite, a less-weathered regolith; beneath C is bedrock.
Saprolite at Arranmore (Ireland). Transition from tectonized quartzite through saprolite to laterite. The weathered section is covered by glacial drift with scattered erratics, Holocene sandy soil and thin bog.
Supergene (geology)
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In ore deposit geology, supergene processes or enrichment are those that occur relatively near the surface as opposed to deep hypogene processes. Supergene processes include the predominance of meteor
Saprolite
…saprolite grit aquifers are capable of producing groundwater, often suitable for livestock. Deep weathering causes the formation of many secondary and supergene ores: bauxite, iron ores, saprolitic gold, supergene copper, uranium, and heavy minerals in residual accumulations. Saprolite (from Greek σαπρος (sapros…
Idealized mineral vein
Azurite and malachite on limonite from Bisbee, Arizona
Chalcocite pseudomorph after covellite from Butte, Montana