Loess
A rock classification type
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About Loess
A clastic, predominantly silt-sized sediment that is formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust.
A widespread, nonstratified, porous, friable, usually highly calcareous, blanket deposit (generally less than 30 m thick), consisting predominantly of silt with subordinate grain sizes ranging from clay to fine sand. It covers areas extending from north-central Europe to eastern China as well as the Mississippi Valley and Pacific Northwest of the United States. Loess is generally buff to light yellow or yellowish brown; often contains shells, bones, and teeth of mammals; and is traversed by networks of small narrow vertical tubes (frequently lined with calcium carbonate concretions) left by successive generations of grass roots, which allow the loess to stand in steep or nearly vertical faces. Loess is now generally believed to be windblown dust of Pleistocene age.
A widespread, nonstratified, porous, friable, usually highly calcareous, blanket deposit (generally less than 30 m thick), consisting predominantly of silt with subordinate grain sizes ranging from clay to fine sand. It covers areas extending from north-central Europe to eastern China as well as the Mississippi Valley and Pacific Northwest of the United States. Loess is generally buff to light yellow or yellowish brown; often contains shells, bones, and teeth of mammals; and is traversed by networks of small narrow vertical tubes (frequently lined with calcium carbonate concretions) left by successive generations of grass roots, which allow the loess to stand in steep or nearly vertical faces. Loess is now generally believed to be windblown dust of Pleistocene age.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
50924
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:50924:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8f17f7c5-a0aa-4e20-937b-e1c0b1becac1
Classification of Loess
Sub-divisions of Loess
Internet Links for Loess
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-50924.html
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References for Loess
Reference List:
Turin, Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont, Italy