Figure 2-14. Dune types based on morphology
(2) Loess. The smooth sheets that result from the windblown deposition of relatively fine-grained
sedimentary particles are called loess deposits. These homogeneous, nonstratified deposits, which have been
derived from deserts, glaciated areas, or the floodplains of large rivers, are composed primarily of silt; however,
they may also contain minor amounts of clay and/or very fine sand. The component particles are generally
angular in shape, imparting a certain amount of stability to the overall loess deposit. Consequently, cliffs formed
as a result of such things as stream erosion or road excavation are almost always vertical. Loess deposits occur
over vast areas of the world, including the United States (the Mississippi
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