This Brief analyses and discusses the laterites in the Bengal Basin. The book highlights: (1) the definition, identification and classification of ferruginous materials, (2) the mode of laterite formation and its other horizons, (3) processes and theories of lateritisation, (4) determination of laterite ages, (5) recognition of palaeogeomorphic and palaeoclimatic significance and (6) geo-chronology and reconstruction of former lateritized landscapes. The chapters cover the tectono-climatic evolution of north-south laterite profiles of the north-western Bengal Basin on the Rajmahal Basalt Traps, Archean Granite-Gneiss, Gondwana Sandstones, Palaeogene Gravels and Older Palaeo-Deltaic Alluvium. The book uses advanced field-based studies, quantitative analysis and thematic mapping to cover various areas of palaeogeography and regolith geology of the Bengal Basin in connection with laterite genesis, palaeoweathering, tectonic geomorphology, Quaternary geomorphology and pedogeomorphology. It introduces laterites as a potential stratigraphic marker in Indian geology by explaining their palaeogeomorphic and palaeoclimatic significance.

This Brief is a comprehensive resource to researchers, students and academicians of geography, geomorphology and geology working on laterites.

Autorentext

Sandipan Ghosh is an Applied Geographer with post-graduate, M.Phil. and Ph. D. degrees in Geography from The University of Burdwan. He has published more than 40 international and national research papers in various renowned geography and geoscience journals.

He has authored a book entitled Flood Hydrology and Risk Assessment: Flood Study in a Dam-Controlled River of India. He has co-edited two books, entitled as 'Neo-Thinking on Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin Geomorphology' and 'Quaternary Geomorphology in India' which are published in the Springer Geography book series.

In addition he has reviewed articles of many international geoscience journals published by Springer, Taylor & Francis, and the International Water Association (IWM). Mr. Ghosh is a lifetime member of The International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), Eastern Geographical Society (EGS), and Indian Geographical Foundation (IGF).

His principal research fields are various dimensions of fluvial geomorphology, flood geomorphology, Quaternary geology, and laterite study. Most recent he has worked on the gully geomorphology and soil erosion on the lateritic terrain of West Bengal and the Quaternary geology and active tectonics of the western Bengal Basin. At present he is working an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, Chandrapur College, Purba Barddhaman.

Sanat Kumar Guchhait is an Applied Geographer with post-graduate and Ph.D. degrees from The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India. He has published three books and more than 30 research articles in various international and national journals of geography. His principal research field includes social geography, environmental geography and applied geomorphology. Seven research scholars are completed their Ph.D. under his supervision. Currently, he is working as a Professor in the Department of Geography, The University of Burdwan (Barddhaman, West Bengal).

Inhalt

Chapter 1. Introduction to Laterite Study.- Chapter 2. Literature Review and Research Methodology.- Chapter 3. Geographical Setting of Study Area.- Chapter 4. Characterization of Primary Laterite Profiles.- Chapter 5. Characterization of Secondary Laterite Profiles.- Chapter 6. Geo-chemical Properties and Lateritization Processes.- Chapter 7. Geochronology of Laterites.- Chapter 8. Palaeogeographic Significance of Laterites.- Chapter 9. Laterite and Society.- Chapter 10. Conclusion.