Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics www.atmos-chem-phys.net 1680-7316 1680-7324 9 6 2009 10.5194/acp-9-1863-2009 http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/1863/2009/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/1863/2009/acp-9-1863-2009.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/1863/2009/acp-9-1863-2009.pdf 1863 1871 2009-03-17 Observation of nitrate coatings on atmospheric mineral dust particles W. J. Li L. Y. Shao shaol@cumtb.edu.cn State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & Department of Resources and Earth Science, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China School of Earth and Space Exploration & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA Nitrate compounds have received much attention because of their ability to alter the hygroscopic properties and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of mineral dust particles in the atmosphere. However, very little is known about specific characteristics of ambient nitrate-coated mineral particles on an individual particle scale. In this study, sample collection was conducted during brown haze and dust episodes between 24 May and 21 June 2007 in Beijing, northern China. Sizes, morphologies, and compositions of 332 mineral dust particles together with their coatings were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalyses. Structures of some mineral particles were verified using selected-area electron diffraction (SAED). TEM observation indicates that approximately 90% of the collected mineral particles are covered by visible coatings in haze samples whereas only 5% are coated in the dust sample. 92% of the analyzed mineral particles are covered with Ca-, Mg-, and Na-rich coatings, and 8% are associated with K- and S-rich coatings. 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