Nature and source of aeolian deposits near the summit of Ben Arkle, Northwest Scotland

Abstract

An extensive blanket of white sandy silt near the summit of Ben Arkle, northwest Scotland, consists of recent wind-transported material derived from frost-weathered quartzite regolith. Cryogenic processes are operative to a limited extent at present, but much of the weathered debris may have formed during the Last Glacial period. The aeolian silt grains are predominantly sub-angular and have irregular blocky surface textures with numerous adhering particles of clay-size quartz and kaolinite. Current aeolian reworking of the formerly-vegetated frost-weathered debris may be due to a slight climatic deterioration or to grazing by animals introduced since the late 19th century