Morphoscopy and Morphometry of Quartz Grains from Loess and Buried Soil Layers

A complex method is suggested for the study of surfaces of sand grains. With this method, middle-and late Pleistocene loess-palaeosol sequences of the Russian Plain, Dnieper Basin, were studied. Surface texture of grains pointed to a dry and cold climate for their formation. During deposition of loess layers predominantly aeolian and cryogenic processes formed the grain surfaces. During interglacial and interstadial periods chemical weathering dominated.