This study is the first to investigate the mineral composition of the atmospheric particulate matter
deposited at Rio Tinto, Spain, an historical mining district of world-class importance, with emphasis on
metal-bearing particles and their environmental implications. The dustfall is composed of quartz,
feldspars, phyllosilicates (mica, chlorite and/or kaolinite) and a variety of accessory heavy minerals,
the most common being primary sulfides (pyrite, chalcopyrite with minor galena, sphalerite and
bornite) and their oxidation products (notably goethite, hematite and jarosite). This mineral assemblage
suggests a local source of wind-blown dust and it is consistent with the large deposition levels of
sulfide-related elements (As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn) registered at the sampling site adjacent to the
mine waste dumps. However, the generation of potentially harmful dust particles is not restricted to
mine wastes. Anthropogenic metallic compounds arising from a nearby hazardous waste disposal
centre can make a relevant additional contribution to the metal deposition, particularly for Fe, Ni, Cr
and Mn. Atmospheric fallout is a major mechanism for metal input to soils and plants around or near
the mining area.
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