SINGLE PARTICLE MINERALOGY OF AEOLIAN DUST IN THE EAST RONGBUK ICE CORE FROM MT. QOMOLANGMA (EVEREST)

Abstract

A recent work demonstrated the practical applicability of the combined use of two techniques, attenuated total reflectance FT–IR (ATR–FT–IR) imaging and a quantitative energy–dispersive electron probe X–ray microanalysis, low–Z particle EPMA, for the characterization of individual aerosol particles. These single particle analytical techniques provide complementary information on the physicochemical characteristics of the same individual particles, such as low–Z particle EPMA on morphology and elemental concentrations and the ATR–FT–IR imaging on molecular species, crystal structures, functional groups, and physical states. In this work, this analytical methodology was applied to characterize an insoluble mineral particle sample in the East Rongbuk ice core from Mt. Qomolangma (Everest). microanalysis, low–Z particle EPMA, for the characterization of individual aerosol particles. These single particle analytical techniques provide complementary information on the physicochemical characteristics of the same individual particles, such as low–Z particle EPMA on morphology and elemental concentrations and the ATR–FT–IR imaging on molecular species, crystal structures, functional groups, and physical states. In this work, this analytical methodology was applied to characterize an insoluble mineral particle sample in the East Rongbuk ice core from Mt. Qomolangma (Everest).