Simulated aeolian abrasion of Pannonian sands and its implications for the origins of Hungarian loess

Quartz sand from southern Hungary was agitated for 128 hours in an abrasion chamber using a constant airstream. The fines produced by abrasion were collected from the exhaust air using an electrostatic precipitator. Analysis of the fines at set intervals by Coulter Counter show particle size distributions after 16 hours with > 50 per cent in the 20-60 μm range (the size range normally associated with loess deposits). Results demonstrate the feasibility of a local, abrasion derived contribution to Hungarian loess.