The tertiary bauxite belt on tectonic uplift areas in the Serra da Mantiqueira, South-East Brazil

Bauxites in permanently uplifted continental areas („Uplift bauxites“). They were formed above the ground-water table and therefore are characterized by a good descendent drainage during weathering under oxic conditions, by epigenetic degradation, erosion and younger soil overprint, and by a low iron mobilisation and saprolite formation. They are generally red. Such bauxites have never before been described under this point of view. The main bauxite „event“ occurred world-wide during the time interval from Upper Cretaceous to Middle Eocene. This phenomenon is exemplified by occurrences in Brazil.