IDENTIFICATION OF LOESS BY PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION USING THE COULTER COUNTER TA II1

Particle size distribution was determined on loess sections from southcentral and northern Idaho; West Yellowstone, Montana; eastern Nebraska; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Macon Ridge, Louisiana, using the Coulter Counter TA II. The Coulter Counter allows for 15 subdivisions in the silt-size range and provides sensitivity in interpreting loess particle size distribution. Loess materials can be identified by a characteristic particle size distribution in the medium and coarse silt fractions, which distinguish them from nonloess materials. The method would be helpful in soil classification, soil parent material studies, and research on loess.