Laterite saprolitic zone

Lateritic weathering, promoted by warm-humid environments and low rates of erosion, can enhance some geochemical anomalies to the point where they may be mined at a profit. For example, lateritic weathering of dunites and peridotites or their serpentinized equivalents can produce ores of nickel with 1 -2% nickel. Nickel is commonly hosted by either iron oxides or silicates (garnierite). The deposits may be cmdely vertically zoned with pisolitic iron-oxide and nickel-bearing zones above richer saprolitic silicate ore. 

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