The nature and distribution of loess in Britain

The previous literature concerning the distribution of loess in
Britain has been noted with the general location of the deposits
being concentrated in southern and eastern England. Other deposits
have been recorded from the south west of England, Wales, north
west England and Scotland. The field studies of these deposits
have been limited to those occurring in eastern and south eastern
England. A brief account of the loess which occurs as a band across
northern Europe from the eastern part of Russia to the north of
France is given, which along with the British deposits suggests
that a single mechanism has controlled their transportation and
deposition. 'Hobbsean' anticyclonic conditions are proposed as
the dominant factor in forming this distribution pattern. The
geotechnical and mineralogical properties of the samples
obtained have been studied along with those supplied from a
New Zealand site, for comparison. The mineralogical studies
using x-ray diffractometry, x-ray fluoresence and thermogravimetry
suggest that much of the 'clay fraction' consists of primary
mineral particles.
Study of the calcareous concretions found in the Essex brickearths
along with those from an East German site and a Hungarian
Brickworks has been undertaken. A highly alkaline environment is
proposed for their formation, this is supported by the etching
of the quartz particles by the calcium carbonate.
The nature of the individual grains was observed and recorded
by scanning electron microscopy; optical microscopy was used to
study the soil fabric.