Devonian laterite in Chitral state, West Pakistan

A Devonian laterite has recently been discovered near Reshun in the Mastuj valley of Chitral State, West Pakistan. It is believed to be the fourth recorded Paleozoic laterite in the world. The laterite is entirely within a thick carbonate of the Shogram Formation of Upper Devonian (Frasnian) age. A chemical analysis of the laterite shows the principal constitutents to be: Al₂O₃ 35.5%, SiO₂, 21.7% Fe₂O₃ 16.0%, FeO 10.3%, TiO₂, 3.5% CaO 0.97%, and MgO 0.70%. Minerals determined by X-ray analysis include hematite, boehmite, diaspore, anatase, rutile, kaolinite, pyrophyllite and what is probably chamosite.