Basic understanding of laterite stones./ FAQs over Laterite stone or red stone. ~ PARAM VISIONS

Let us go through some of the FAQs over laterite stones or red stones used in construction.

Go through the article 👇

👀. What are laterite stone blocks? - Their advantages, disadvantages, price, & size.

1. How to check the quality of laterite stones on site?

Freshly quarried laterite stones are generally soft and hardens when exposed to the atmosphere. The quality of the block should be checked preferably after the exposure period of 3 months.

1. Surface pores & voids:

The stone should contain minimal pores over the surface. The stones are considered of good quality if the depth & size of the individual pores are minimal.

2. Grain size:

The grain size should be uniformly distributed. The pockets in between the surface grains should not contain clay soil or any soft organic material.

3. Color:

The laterite stone should have a uniform reddish-brown shade. The stones should not change their shade from one edge or surface to the other end.

4. Scratch resistance:

When we scratch the material with nails, it should not loosely come out. The scratch should not form a deeper penetration into the material.

5. Edges:

The edges should be sharp & should not chip out when pressed with the finger.

6. Shape or size:

The block should have an even surface finish with a true rectangular prism shape.

7. Drop test:

When dropped from a chest height (4 to 5 ft.), the stones should not break into pieces.

2. Why do the laterite stones differ in their colors?

Laterite stone contains several types of ores & minerals in their structural composition. The percentage of different types of ores present in the laterite stone is responsible for the particular shades.

The composition of ores present in the stones varies, as they are natural materials mined from quarries.

Some of the prominent ones that decide the color are,

Manganese ore 👉 light blackish-brown.

Iron ore 👉 reddish brown.

Aluminum ore 👉 lighter orange-red.

Clay minerals 👉 yellowish-orange.

3. What is the chemical composition of laterite stones?

Laterite stone contains various types of oxides & minerals in their chemical composition. The primary materials that are responsible for its bonding strength are aluminum oxides, silicon dioxide, & iron oxides.

The chemical composition largely differs from region to region depending upon its geological formation.

Following is the list of constituents present in laterite stones.

4. What should be the physical properties of laterite stone blocks?

The physical properties of the laterite stone blocks shall conform to the requirements given in the following table.

Note: The compressive strength is for saturated dry samples.

5. Which IS code should be followed for the specification of laterite stone blocks?

IS 3620 - 1979

IS 1129 - 1972

6. What are different construction materials made with laterites?

Primarily, the laterite stones are used in making building blocks for the construction of masonry walls.

Following are the different ways we can use laterite stones in the construction industry.

◆. Laterite stone blocks:

Most widely used all over the world for the construction of masonry walls. The stones are directly supplied from the quarry to the working site without doing any prior dressing or finishing.

◆. Laterite architectural (cladding ) stones:

The architectural stones are made by using the 1st quality laterite materials. They are machine-cut to make an evenly finished surface, having sharp edges.

As shown in the above image, these stones are used for the aesthetic purpose to decorate the buildings.

◆. Laterite flooring tiles:

Machine-cut laterite tiles are used for the interior & exterior floorings. They are either polished or epoxy finished to get a smooth flooring surface.

◆. Laterite cladding tiles: