Eolianite

Eolianite or aeolianite is any rock formed by the

. eolianite has a hardness of 4.3 and is very dull. Streak is light brown.

Description

Sayles coined the term in 1931, when he described the dune-shaped hills of

Eolianite occurs in many parts of the world. It occurs most extensively between the latitudes of 20° and 40° in both hemispheres, with little nearer the equator, and virtually no deposits nearer the poles. There is no apparent difference in distribution between the hemispheres, but if the extent and thickness of deposits are taken into account, the Southern Hemisphere has the bulk of eolianite.

Orkney

, Scotland

Conditions favourable for formation of eolianite are:

• a warm climate, favourable to the production of
  molluscs
  ;
• onshore winds to form beached sediment into dunes;
• a relatively low onshore topography, rather than onshore cliffs, to allow the formation of dune systems;
• relatively low onshore rainfall, to promote rapid lithification;
• tectonic
  stability;

The most extensive deposits of eolianite in the world are located on the southern and western coasts of

Oceans.

See also

• Depositional environment
• Facies
• Sedimentary rock

References

• Brooke, Brendan (2001). "The distribution of carbonate eolianite". Earth-Science Reviews. 55 (1–2): 135–164.
  doi:10.1016/S0012-8252(01)00054-X
  .