TANG Yang^{1, 2}, HAN Gui-lin¹, XU Zhi-fang³

1. Institute of Geochemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guiyang 550002, China;
2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049, China;
3. Institute of Geology and Geophysics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100029, China

Abstract: A batch of natural atmospheric dusts amples collected in Beijing and the northern regions to Beijing in the different seasons were analyzed by X-ray power diffraction to study their mineral composition characteristics and their temporal-spatial distribution. The results showed that Quartz is the main mineral with an average content of 83.19% and that the main Feldspar is Plagioclase, indicating the weakly weathering process of the dust source region. Calcite and dolomite are the main carbonate minerals, representing comparability with the Chinese loess. The dust contains a small amount of clay minerals, 1. 64% - 5. 88% of the total mineral mass. Kaolinite is the main content of the clay mineral reflects the semi- wetness, relatively mildness surface environment of the study areas. Clustering analysis indicated that the sampling sites can be classified into two groups ( urban and rural) according to the mineral composition characteristics. The dust samples collected in windy months possess relatively higher amount of clay and lower amount of Feldspar than those collected windless months.

Key words: Beijing; atmospheric dust; mineral composit ion; clay mineral

*Corresponding Author, E-Mail: hanguilin@vip.skleg.cn

Bulletin of Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry Vol. 30, No.1, 2011, page 150-155

(Source from http://www.cnki.com.cn/)