Laterite

Laterite is a raw resource found beneath the surface of every planet in Astroneer, with the exception of Aeoluz, where it also appears in the Aggregate Hills, Alpha Storm Peaks, and Zeta Storm Peaks regions. It is one of the earliest resources players can reliably gather underground, making it a common material to collect while exploring caves and digging through subsurface layers.

Laterite is refined in the Smelter to produce Aluminum, which makes it an important stepping stone for many crafted items and progression requirements. It is also required for certain EXO Dynamics Research Aids. One mission, Smelteringly Hot, specifically asks the player to refine Laterite into Aluminum.

• Laterite is a mineral-rich soil layer, high in aluminum and iron ores.
• The name comes from the Latin word for "brick" and the mineralogical suffix used to name ore materials.
• Because it is so common underground, it is often worth collecting in bulk while cave-diving, especially before establishing a dependable Aluminum supply.