Composition and source of the clay‐sized fraction of Saalian till in The Netherlands

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Abstract
The clay mineral composition of a number of Saalian till samples from The Netherlands shows a large variation in smectite and illite abundances. The samples were selected according to their source area, as inferred from coarse erratic components. Specimens containing primarily rock fragments indicative of East and East‐Central Baltic areas are associated with no or low smectite percentages in their clay fractions. Those with mainly flint and rock fragments indicative of the West Baltic areas have high smectite contents in the clay. In general the smectite‐rich material is found in the lower portions of the Saalian till bed, whereas the smectite‐poor occurs in the upper portions. The linkage between very fine and coarse till components in the upper smectite‐free parts of the till suggests that this entire till has been subjected to englacial transport over distances of at least 1000 km.