A loess (US: /ˈlɛs, ˈlʌs, ˈloʊ.əs/, UK: /ˈloʊ.əs, ˈlɜːs/; from German: Löss [lœs]) is a clastic, predominantly silt-sized sediment that is formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust.[1] Ten percent of Earth's land area is covered by loesses or similar deposits.[2]
A loess is a periglacial or aeolian (windborne) sediment, defined as an accumulation of 20% or less of clay with a balance of roughly equal parts sand and silt (with a typical grain size from 20 to 50 micrometers),[3][4] often loosely cemented by calcium carbonate. Usually, they are homogeneous and highly porous and have vertical capillaries that permit the sediment to fracture and form vertical bluffs.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Frechen 2011was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Vasiljevic, D. A.; Markovic, S. B.; Hose, T. A.; Smalley, I.; O'Hara-Dhand, K.; Basarin, B.; Lukic, T.; Vujicic, M. D. (2011). "Loess Towards (Geo) Tourism – Proposed Application on Loess in Vojvodina Region (North Serbia)". Acta Geographica Slovenica (in Slovenian). 51 (2): 390–406. doi:10.3986/AGS51305.
- ^ Smalley, I. J.; Derbyshire, E. (1990). "The definition of 'ice-sheet' and 'mountain' loess". Area 22. pp. 300–01.
- ^ Donahue, Miller, Shickluna (1977). Soils: An Introduction to Soils and Plant Growth (4th ed.). Prentice Hall.