Investigations were conducted to provide basic data on the status and distribution of tree oxides in soils overlying limestone in Nigeria. Soils from 13 profiles collected at Ashaka, Sokoto, Gboko, Nkalagwu, Calabar, Ewekoro, and Shagamu were used for this study. The acid-ammonium oxalate and dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate methods were used to extract the free iron from the samples. Iron oxide values obtained with these two extractants were compared. The Fedvalues are higher than the FeOvalues in some of the soils, indicating that a considerable fraction is present in crystalline form. There is co-migration of clay with iron oxide in some of the soils, and this is also evident in the profile distribution of the clay/Fedratio in such soils.The Feo/Fedratio (diagnostic index) values obtained could not be used to separate poorly drained soils from well-drained soils, but their active ratio values estimate the degree of soil development.