ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Mineral Composition of Atmospheric Dust
in Biebrza National Park, Poland
A. Tondera, M. Jabłońska, J. Janeczek
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Department of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, ul. Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2007;16(3):453-458
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Biebrza National Park (BNP) in NE Poland is one of the least polluted regions of Europe and as such
seems to be well suited for the determination of the composition of natural-background pollution of atmospheric
dust. Samples of fallen dust were collected at monthly intervals between April 2003 and March
2004 in the isolated settlement of Grzędy. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscope images,
and energy dispersive spectrometry revealed quartz, feldspars, micas, kaolinite, chlorite and hematite as
major dust constituents. In addition, a few grains of Ni, Ni-Fe phosphide, and Fe-Ni-Cr oxides (probably
of extraterrestrial origin) were observed. Anthropogenic constituents include amorphous aluminosilicates,
barite, gypsum, Sn, Fe, Ti and Bi-W oxides. Quartz and feldspars constitute the majority of natural-dust
pollution in BNP. Both grain size and mineral composition exhibit seasonal variations.