Aeromineralogy - mineralogy of solid particles in the atmosphere

  Cosmic processes, geological processes and human activities on Earth introduce dust, gases, and aerosols into the atmosphere. Various reactions between them take place, including photochemical reactions, and new compounds are formed. Particulate matter is transported in the atmosphere sometimes over global distances and remains suspended even for many years. The phase composition of atmospheric dust, on a par with its chemical and isotopic composition, are the “fingerprints” for determining its source, transformation processes and health effects. Mineralogical analysis of the presence and distribution of particles in the atmosphere, their quantity, diversity and routes of transport is a powerful tool in modern studies of global environmental transformations.

  The term aeromineralogy was proposed for that part of mineralogy that addresses such issues (Manecki, 1976, Manecki et al., 1984), following the example of biologists who called aerobiology the branch of biology that studies the aeroplankton floating in the atmosphere. To study the mineral and chemical composition of atmospheric dust, aeromineralogy uses specific methodology: specific tools for collection and separation of the particles followed by microscopy (polarizing microscopes, electron microscopes, atomic force microscopy, etc.), diffraction methods (X-ray diffractometry, electron diffraction, EBSD, etc. ), different varieties of microprobes for chemical and isotopic microanalysis, spectroscopy for determination of H₂O, OH, and organic matter (IR, Raman, etc.) and many other less classical methods from the mineralogist workbench. Comprehensive analyses of airborne particulate matter are routinely performed for both research and monitoring purposes, for health protection, both indoors and outdoors, since not only the size of inhaled particles, but also their phase composition accounts for potential hazards or health effects (see for example Peña-Castro et al., 2023; Puławska et al., 2021).

  Therefore, it is advisable to more broadly publicize the name aeromineralogy for the promotion of the contribution, role, and specificity of mineralogical research and analytical methods in everyday applications of occupational health and safety practice, in the monitoring of contemporary global environmental changes, the circulation of atmospheric particles on Earth, and in studies of cosmic matter (see for example Genge et al., 2020).

 

Genge et al., 2020. Micrometeorites: Insights into the flux, sources and atmospheric entry of extraterrestrial dust at Earth. Planetary and Space Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2020.104900.

Manecki, A. 1976. Aeromineralogy, mineralogy of atmospheric dust. Mineral. Polon., vol. 7, no. 2.

Manecki A. (ed.) 1984. Transport and input of air pollutants in the Niepołomice Forest area. In: Forest Ecosystems in Industrial Regions. Ecol. Stud., 48. Springer.

Peña-Castro et al., 2023. A critical review of asbestos concentrations in water and air, according to exposure sources. Heliyon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15730.

Puławska et al., 2021. Origin, distribution, and perspective health benefits of particulate matter in the air of underground salt mine: a case study from Bochnia, Poland. Environ Geochem Health, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00832-2