Physiographic Implications Of Laterite In West Malaysia

702001-101372-1174-B
Author : R. J. Eyles
Publication : Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia
Page : 1 – 7
Volume Number : 3
Year : 1970
DOI : https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm03197001

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, Volume 3, March 1970, pp. 1 – 7

Physiographic Implications of Laterite in West Malaysia

R. J. EYLES

University of Malaya

 

Abstract: A map of laterite-bearing soil associations is presented which illustrates the widespread but fragmentary location of laterite in the lowland areas of Malaya and the tendency for it to be most widespread in areas with relatively dry climates and argillaceous rocks.

Laterite commonly occurs in four positions in the landscape: flat alluvial land, foot slopes, gently undulating country, and hill summits. Laterites of two small sample areas are demonstrated, by measurement of soil properties (shear strength, infiltration capacity, percentage clay and aggregate stability) to be very resistant to erosion. This resistance has led to relief inversion with fossilization of laterite as summit caps in several parts of Malaya. The possibility of using these summit formations as marker levels in studies of denudation chronology is briefly discussed.

https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm03197001