Question

Release of iron from primary minerals and their dispersal as coatings on soil particles to impart brown to red colour to soil particles is called:
(A) Braunification
(B) Ferruginisation
(C) Rubification
(D) Laterisation

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• B. (B), (C) and (D) only.
• C. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• D. (A), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

Processes related to iron often result in distinct red, brown, or yellow hues in soils.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Braunification, Ferruginisation, and Rubification all involve iron oxide formation or deposition that imparts red to brown coloration in soils. Laterisation is more associated with intense weathering and leaching.

Answer 2

Definition-comparison approach: The question describes iron being released from primary minerals and dispersed as coatings that redden or brown soil particles.
Rubification specifically refers to reddening of soil due to formation of hematite-type iron oxide coatings on particles, the most direct match to the description. Ferruginisation refers to the broader impregnation and coating of soil material with iron oxides. Braunification refers to browning caused by formation of hydrated iron oxides (goethite-type) on particle surfaces. All three therefore describe iron-coating colouration processes consistent with the question.
Laterisation, in contrast, describes intense weathering with silica leaching and residual accumulation of iron and aluminium oxides/hydroxides (forming laterite/plinthite), which is a distinct weathering-and-leaching process rather than simple particle coating.
Excluding laterisation leaves (A), (B) and (C) only as the correct combination.