The development of frost-weathering microstructures on sand-sized quartz grains: examples from Poland and Mongolia

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
Quartz grains taken from Pleistocene sands and a palaeo-active layer in Poland (Łódź Teofilów) and from silty-clayey sediments of the contemporary active layer near Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) were analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Other analyses included granulometric composition, and frosting and rounding of quartz grains. The effects of frost weathering comprise several microstructures. Two types of frost weathering were distinguished. Weathering of the P type is mainly initiated on convex fragments of grains as the result of ice segregation. Weathering of the F type is linked to the volumetric expansion of ice and usually observed within concave linear microstructures. A frost action index (FAI) was developed based on the frequency of occurrence of microstructures from frost weathering.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Permafrost and periglacial processes, issn : 1045-6740, 2011, vol. 22, n°. 3, p. 214-227, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2011

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley