Multi-scale characterization of Fe-bearing phase in the desert dust collected in Hefei, China and Fukuoka, Japan during the dust storm event in March 2010

Abstract

In order to understand the physical and chemical state of Fe in the aeolian dust occurred in March 2010, a combination of bulk and nano scale analytical techniques was employed to characterize the aerosol samples collected simultaneously in Fukuoka, Japan and Hefei, China during the dust storm event on March 21-23, 2010. The major mineral assemblage is similar in both samples: quartz, muscovite, calcite, gypsum and chlorite. X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis and electron microscopy reveal that Fe-bearing phase in the sample >4 micro meter is mainly aluminosilicate and Fe-oxide containing ~20 % of Fe(II), whereas Fe is predominantly present as maghemite, gamma-Fe₂O₃, submicron-sized particle in the sample <4 micro meter.