Loess

Loess is a fine-grained, wind-blown deposit that is found outside of the immediate area covered by glacial ice. It is created when glaciers grind up stones into fine particles known as “glacial flour”. The glacial flour is transported away from the glacier by meltwater streams. The glacial flour is eventually deposited on flood plains as silt. When the glacial flour silt dries, it is picked up by wind and spread across the landscape. In Colorado, loess from extensive ice age mountain glaciers covers most of the eastern part of the state.