Size Distribution of Sand in Some Dunes, Beaches, and Sandstones

Sieve-analysis data from more than 700 sand samples collected from recent dunes and beaches, and from the St. Peter, Navajo, Wyopo, and Tensleep sandstones are used, following a simple procedure, to classify the sand samples as F or C. The ratio of the number of F samples to the number of C samples from a locality or formation gives its F:C ratio. The F:C ratio for recent dune sand is relatively high; that for modern beach sand intermediate; and for the sandstone formations lowest of all three. The F:C ratio data indicate that the last environment of deposition of the four sandstones studied was not eolian.