Single-particle characterization of soil samples collected at various arid areas of China, using low-Z particle electron probe X-ray microanalysis

In this work, using the low-Z particle EPMA, it is clearly demonstrated that the relative abundances of each chemical species significantly vary among soil samples. The frequencies to encounter aluminosilicates and the contents of minor elements in aluminosilicate-containing particles are different between soil samples. Also, the contents of calcite, dolomite, and Fe-containing particles vary from sample to sample. This kind of detailed information on chemical composition of source soils could be useful for the identification of the source region of mineral particles in aerosol samples and in the research of chemical modification of Asian Dust particles during long-range transport.