Geochronological,geochemical and mineralogical constraints on the petrogenesis of appinites from the Laoniushan complex,eastern Qinling,central China

Appinites are commonly derived from a mantle source and are potentially significant in constraining the tectonic nature and evolution of ancient orogens, yet they have received little attention because of their limited outcrop. Here we investigate the newly identified appinitic rocks from the Laoniushan complex in the eastern Qinling Orogen. The appinites are composed of coarse-grained hornblendite, medium- and fine-grained hornblende-gabbro, and diorite porphyrite in the field occurrence. Winthin the appinitic rocks, the hornblendite displays features of cumulates. This study presents LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb data, mineral chemistry and whole rock geochemistry of the appinites. Zircons in the mafic to ultramafic rocks yield a U-Pb age of 152 ± 1Ma. The geochemistry of the rocks displays: lower SiO₂, higher Fe₂O₃^T and MgO contents, relatively flat chondrite normalized REE patterns with slight enrichment in light REE and a minor negative Eu anomaly; enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements(LILE, e.g. Rb, Ba, Sr and P), and depletion in high field strength elements(HFSE, e.g. Nb, Zr, Hf and Ti). Such geochemical features, together with crust-like bulk Sr-Nd isotopic compositions(initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7057–0.7072, ε_Nd(t) = −17.2 to −9), suggest that the Laoniushan appinites likely originated from an ancient metasomatised mantle, followed by fractional crystallization in the petrogenetic process. The studied appinites were most likely generated in an intracontinental extensional environment in the Late Mesozoic.     

Marbles and carbonate rocks from central Morocco: a petrographic,mineralogical and geochemical study

Petrographic, mineralogical, and stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O values) compositions were used to characterise marbles and sedimentary carbonate rocks from central Morocco, which are considered to be a likely source of ornamental and building material from Roman time to the present day. This new data set was used in the frame of an archaeometric provenance study on Roman artefacts from the town of Thamusida (Kenitra, north Morocco), to assess the potential employment of these rocks for the manufacture of the archaeological materials. A representative set of samples from marbles and other carbonate rocks (limestone, dolostone) were collected in several quarries and outcrops in the Moroccan Meseta, in a region extending from the Meknes–Khenifra alignment to the Atlantic Ocean. All the samples were studied using a petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical methods. The petrographic and minerological investigations (optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction) allowed to group the carbonate rocks in limestones, foliated limestone, diagenetic breccias and dolostone. The limestones could be further grouped as mudstones, wackestones–packstones, crinoid grainstones, oolitic grainstone and floatstones. Textural differences allowed to define marbles varieties. The stable carbon and oxygen isotope composition proved to be quite useful in the discrimination of marble sources, with apparently less discriminatory potential for carbonate rocks.     

Potassic dyke swarm in the Sapucai Graben, eastern Paraguay: petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical outlines

The western side of the Paranà Basin of Brazil extends to central Paraguay, where repeated and widespread magmatic activity developed from Lower Cretaceous to Oligocene, associated with late Mesozoic crustal extension trending NE-SW. In central Paraguay this trend is characterized by a zone of NW-SE normal faults which formed the Asunciòn-Sapucai graben, up to 45 km wide and 200 km long, where alkaline rocks occur as volcanic domes, complexes, lava-flows and dykes. These rocks, 128 Ma aged, are dominantly potassic and ne-normative.

A swarm of at least 200, mainley NW-SE trending, dykes occurs in the Sapucai region and seems to be formed by two main lineages: tephrite to phonolite (and peralkaline phonolite) and alkali basalt to trachyphonolite. They are characterized by ubiquitous diopside to ferrosalite, consistently yielding Al enrichment trends; common olivine, Fo_81-69 in tephrites and alkaline basalts, and up to Fo₆₅ in phonolites; zoned megacrysts of hastingsitic hornblende (core) to kaersutite (rim), associated with accessory groundmass pargasite in tephrites and phonotephrites; K-rich hastingsite and K-rich ferroan pargasite in the phonolites. Accessory groundmass mica falls in the annite-phlogopite range, and consistently yields insufficient (Si + Al) to satisfy the expected T site occupancy of 8.00 a.f.u. Fe---Ti oxides are Ti-magnetite, rarely ilmenite or haematite. Phenocrystal, i.e. xenocrystal plagioclase is An_70-20, and An_74-42 in the tephrites and phonolites, respectively; coexisting groundmass microlites are An_22-14, associated with sodasanidine and sanidine. Feldspathoids include analcimized leucite and nepheline; accessories Ti-andradite and sphene.

The two main lineages, recognized by distinctive mineralogical variations, are consistent with the petrochemical variations. Complex interaction of discrete and independently evolving magma batches are indicated by intra- and/or interphase chemical variations, suggesting multiple equilibrations of the crystallizing phases under shallow level, volcanic pressure regime. The observed geochemical trends are quite similar to those of “Roman Region type magma” with the same negative anomalies of Ta, Nb, Zr and Ti. The most likely mantle source is a garnet-peridotite characterized by different enrichment in incompatible elements and which suffered low degree of partial melting (3–7%), which has geochemical and isotopic features distinct from those of the adjoining tholeiitic basalts (130 Ma) and nephelinites (61-39 Ma).

The similarities of the Sapucai dyke suite with Barton's “Roman Region type magma” supports the view that this magma type may not be formed as a result of orogenic and/or subduction-driven activity in this region. Therefore, a causal relationship of the latter activity with “Roman Region type magma” is not supported and remains questionable.     

Lithological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of loesses in the Rhinegraben

Buraczynski, J., 1988. Lithological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of loess in the Rhinegraben. Eng. Geol., 25: 201–208.

Lithological properties of loesses have considerable practical significance. Together with the origin of the material and the genetic–facial variability they are characterised by granulometry, chemical and mineral composition and textural features. In particular, the clay fraction and carbonate content point to the fraction and carbonate content point to the geotecnical properties of loesses.     

Silurian magmatism in eastern Senegal and its significance for the Paleozoic evolution of NW-Gondwana

Submarine basalt and trachyte of the Nandoumba group occur in eastern Senegal within the Bassarides branch of the Mauritanides orogen. The unit forms part of the parautochthonous domain which is stacked between underlying Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic foreland and overlying Variscan nappes. The crystallisation age of the volcanic to subvolcanic rocks has been determined by U–Pb single zircon SHRIMP method at 428 ± 5.2 Ma whereas zircon xenocryst ages vary from 500 to 2200 Ma. The shape of the xenocryst grains document proximal Neo- and Paleoproterozoic and distal Mesoproterozoic provenance areas for assimilated sediments. This is compatible with the Paleoproterozoic Birimian basement and Neoproterozoic cover rocks nearby whereas an origin from the Amazonian craton could be assumed for distal Mesoproterozoic zircons.Geochemical and Sm–Nd isotope whole rock analysis show that basalts of the Nandoumba group are similar to modern transitional to alkaline volcanic lavas in intraplate settings. Those basalts have a deep mantle source with a great contribution of a recycled mantle component such as EM1 and/or EM2. The basalts resemble in their composition those from the Meguma terrane of Nova Scotia which are of similar age suggesting a common source and therefore connection of Meguma with Gondwana during this period. Review of circum-Atlantic Silurian magmatism indicates ongoing fragmentation of NW-Gondwana that started in Cambro/Ordovician times.     

Clay mineralogical,geochemical and isotopic tracing of the evolution of the Woodleigh impact structure,Southern Carnarvon Basin,Western Australia

Chaotically structured diamictite from the inner ring syncline surrounding the central uplift of the Woodleigh impact structure contains shocked metamorphic and impact melt-rock fragments, largely derived from Ordovician and Devonian target sandstones. Coarse illite fractions (<2 m) from the sandstones containing no K-feldspar yield K–Ar ages of around 400 Ma, whereas the K–Ar ages of authigenic clays of >0.2 m fractions from the diamictite without smectite and K-feldspar cluster around 360 Ma, consistent with Rb–Sr data. Crystallisation of newly formed illite in the impact melt rock clasts and recrystallisation of earlier formed illite in the sandstone clasts preserved in the diamictite, are attributed to impact-induced hydrothermal processes in the Late Devonian. The illitic clays from the diamictite and from the sandstones have very similar trace element compositions, with significantly enriched incompatible lithophile elements, which increase in concentrations correlatively with those of the compatible ferromagnesian elements. The unusual trace element associations in the clays may be due to the involvement of hot gravity-driven basinal fluids that interacted with rocks of the Precambrian craton to the east of the study area, or with such material transported and reworked in the studied sedimentary succession.     

Neotectonic stage in the formation of the Khokhlovskoe uranium deposit, eastern Transural region: Structural, hydrochemical, mineralogical, and geochemical formation conditions

The structural, hydrochemical, mineralogical, and geochemical features of the Khokhlovskoe uranium deposit related to neotectonic processes are considered. The structural feature is expressed in neotectonic dislocations in the form of overall intense fragmentation of host rocks and widespread low-amplitude strike-slip faulting. The hydrochemical specificity is determined by the appearance of thermal carbonated formation water in ore-bearing aquifers. This water is similar in chemical and gas composition to hydrothermal solutions in fluid inclusions and mineral waters abundant in this district. The mineralogical and geochemical features comprise the occurrence of newly formed ferroan carbonates and late iron hydroxides in altered (bleached) pelitic rocks; the formation of silicic opal segregations in ore-bearing sand and sandstone; late sulfides, arsenides, and selenides of iron and other metals; and multiphase gel-pitchblende enriched in Zr especially typical of high-grade uranium ore. The age of high-grade ore determined by a precision uranium-ionium method coincides with the time when thermal carbonated water appeared in the host rocks. This time was estimated from a mathematical model of heat transfer and regional dynamics of underground water. This coincidence clearly indicates that the aforementioned processes are related to the late Quaternary neotectonic reactivation of the eastern Transural region.     

Petrogenesis of Dongguashan skarn-porphyry Cu-Au deposit related intrusion in the Tongling district,eastern China: Geochronological,mineralogical, geochemical and Hf isotopic evidence

The Dongguashan skarn-porphyry Cu-Au deposit, located in the Tongling district of the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley metallogenic belt (MLYB), consists of skarn ore bodies in the upper part and porphyry ore bodies in the lower part, both of which are hosted in quartz diorite and quartz monzodiorite. Zircon U-Pb age and geochemical studies show that the quartz diorite of the Dongguashan intrusion formed at 140.3 ± 2.0 Ma (MSWD = 0.19) and belongs to the high potassium calc-alkaline series. It is enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), depleted in high field-strength elements (HFSE) and heavy rare earth elements (HREE), and has a slightly negative Eu anomaly. ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf values of the rims of zircons show a variable range (0.282087–0.282391), corresponding with calculated ε_Hf(t) values of − 10.72 to − 21.46. Plagioclases in the quartz diorite have unbalanced structure characterized by bright andesine and labradorite (An = 37.0–65.5) cores with higher contents of Fe and Sr and are corroded by dark oligoclase (An = 13.8–27.6) rim. Major elements, trace elements, Hf isotope, and the composition of plagioclases indicate that the parental magma of the Dongguashan intrusion was produced by the mixing of underplating mafic magma and felsic magma formed by remelting of Paleoproterozoic and Neoarchean crustal rocks, Neoproterozoic crust may also provide some material to the felsic magma. Mafic magma played a key role and made the parental magma rich in water, sulfur, metals (Cu, Au) and gave it a high oxygen fugacity. During its magmatic evolution, the parental magma underwent fractional crystallization of hornblende, apatite, sphene and other mafic minerals. Some quartz diorite and quartz monzodiorite samples that show adakitic signatures, may result from injection of mafic magma. Some inherited zircons of the quartz diorite in the Dongguashan intrusion gave ages of 2.40–2.50 Ga, 1.95–2.05 Ga and 0.74–0.81 Ga, coming from ultramafic, mafic and andesitic igneous rocks, and this indicates that there may have been three periods (2.4, 2.0, and 0.8 Ga) of magmatic activity in the Tongling district.     

Geological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the Carles gold mineralization, Asturias, Spain

In the western part of the Cantabrian Zone, Carlés gold mineralization is related to an igneous stock of granodioritic composition which intruded into devonian limestones, forming a well-developed exo-skarn and quantitatively less important endo-skarn. The skarn is characterized by the presence of garnet, pyroxenes, amphiboles, layers of hornfels corresponding to pelitic intercalations, and a number of opaque oxides and sulfides. Gold inclusions in arsenic minerals are present in quartzveins occurring in the skarn and in the granodiorite, but gold-rich zones are limited to the skarn. The crystallization temperature of arsenopyrite is coherent with T-P conditions (T = 460°C, P = 2200 bars) deduced from intersections of isochores of aqueous and carbonic fluid inclusions studied in samples of cogenetic quartz.     

Authigenic carbonate precipitates from the NE Black Sea: a mineralogical,geochemical, and lipid biomarker study

Carbonate precipitates recovered from 2,000 m water depth at the Dolgovskoy Mound (Shatsky Ridge, north eastern Black Sea) were studied using mineralogical, geochemical and lipid biomarker analyses. The carbonates differ in shape from simple pavements to cavernous structures with thick microbial mats attached to their lower side and within cavities. Low δ¹³C values measured on carbonates (−41 to −32‰ V-PDB) and extracted lipid biomarkers indicate that anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) played a crucial role in precipitating these carbonates. The internal structure of the carbonates is dominated by finely laminated coccolith ooze and homogeneous clay layers, both cemented by micritic high-magnesium calcite (HMC), and pure, botryoidal, yellowish low-magnesium calcite (LMC) grown in direct contact to microbial mats. δ¹⁸O measurements suggest that the authigenic HMC precipitated in equilibrium with the Black Sea bottom water while the yellowish LMC rims have been growing in slightly ¹⁸O-depleted interstitial water. Although precipitated under significantly different environmental conditions, especially with respect to methane availability, all analysed carbonate samples show lipid patterns that are typical for ANME-1 dominated AOM consortia, in the case of the HMC samples with significant contributions of allochthonous components of marine and terrestrial origin, reflecting the hemipelagic nature of the primary sediment.     

Magnetic,geochemical and mineralogical properties of sediments from karstic and flysch rivers of Croatia and Slovenia

The aim of the present work was to investigate links between the low-field magnetic susceptibility (MS) and chemical and mineral composition of sediments from several Croatian and Slovenian rivers, as well as to determine possible anthropogenic influence on these sediments. MS measurements are a fast and simple method, which serves as a proxy for the estimation of pollution in different environmental systems. The investigated rivers are predominantly unpolluted rivers from Croatian and Slovenian karstic and flysch areas, which belong to the Adriatic or the Black Sea watersheds: the Dragonja, the Mirna, the Ra?a, the Ri?ana, the Reka, the Rak, the Cerkni?nica, the Unec and the Ljubljanica rivers. It was assumed that, due to their mostly unpolluted status, they could serve as a database for natural MS background values for this region. For comparison, several rivers and a lake from the Celje old metallurgic industrial area (Slovenia) were also investigated: the Savinja, the Hudinja, the Voglajna rivers and Slivni?ko Lake. They form a sub-basin of the Sava River drainage basin. Sediments of the clean karstic and flysch rivers showed extremely low MS values, with mass susceptibility values ranging from 0.58 × 10^?7 to 5.11 × 10^?7 m³/kg, and isothermal remanent magnetism (IRM) values ranging from 0.71 to 7.88 A/m. In the Celje industrial area, river sediments showed much higher MS values, with mass susceptibility values ranging from 1.31 × 10^?7 to 38.3 × 10^?7 m³/kg, and IRM values ranging from 0.91 to 100.42 A/m. The highest MS value was found in the Voglajna River at Teharje-?tore, a point which showed a significant number of anomalies of toxic metals in earlier investigations. Semiquantitative determination of relations between grain size and concentration of magnetite was performed using the Thompson-Oldfield method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogical analysis showed that sediments of the Celje area have mostly quartz as major mineral, with relatively small amount of carbonate minerals, while in sediments of karstic rivers carbonate minerals prevail. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between MS and Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Ba in the Slovenian karstic region and between MS and Cr, Fe, Co, Ni and Zn in flysch drainage basins. On the contrary, no correlation of MS and Hg content was obtained.     

黑青和田玉宝石矿物学及地球化学特征研究

近年国内市场出现了一种含有黄铁矿的黑青色玉石,主要产自新疆,属于和田玉中的稀少品种。本文利用常规宝石学仪器、偏光显微镜、红外光谱、拉曼光谱、X射线粉晶衍射(XRD)、电子探针(EPMA)、激光电感耦合等离子质谱(LA-ICP-MS)以及同位素质谱仪(MC-ICP-MS)对7块黑青和田玉样品的宝石矿物学和地球化学特征进行了系统分析,结果显示,样品颜色为墨绿-黑色,折射率点测1.61,相对密度3.08~3.17,摩氏硬度6.0~6.5,主要组成矿物为透闪石,次要矿物以黄铁矿为主,同时还含有少量绿泥石、绿帘石、榍石、锆石、石墨等,具有典型的纤维交织状结构;红外与拉曼光谱特征峰显示与和田玉标准谱峰一致;样品中透闪石的主要化学成分为SiO₂、MgO、CaO和FeO,Mg/(Mg+Fe²⁺)值显示部分透闪石已过渡为阳起石;根据微量元素Cr-Ni投图判别样品为白云石大理岩型成因,稀土元素含量较少,呈左倾模式;推测成矿热液主要为岩浆水,含少量变质水;样品中黄铁矿Co/Ni>1且含少量As、Se、Cu、Zn、Pb等元素,δ³⁴S介于8.87‰~20.92‰之间,推断为岩浆热液成因且硫来源于岩浆与地层硫的混合。     

Modeling the multi-level plumbing system of the Changbaishan caldera from geochemical,mineralogical, Sr-Nd isotopic and integrated geophysical data

Changbaishan, an intraplate volcano, is characterized by an approximately 6 km wide summit caldera and last erupted in 1903. Changbaishan experienced a period of unrest between 2002 and 2006. The activity developed in three main stages, including shield volcano(basalts), cone-construction(trachyandesites to trachytes with minor basalts), and caldera-forming stages(trachytes to comendites). This last stage is associated with one of the more energetic eruptions of the last millennium on Earth, the 946 CE, VEI 7 Millennium Eruption(ME),which emitted over 100 km3 of pyroclastics. Compared to other active calderas, the plumbing system of Changbaishan and its evolution mechanisms remain poorly constrained. Here, we merge new whole-rock,glass, mineral, isotopic, and geobarometry data with geophysical data and present a model of the plumbing system. The results show that the volcano is characterized by at least three main magma reservoirs at different depths: a basaltic reservoir at the Moho/lower crust depth, an intermediate reservoir at 10–15 km depth, and a shallower reservoir at 0.5–3 km depth. The shallower reservoir was involved in the ME eruption, which was triggered by a fresh trachytic melt entering a shallower reservoir where a comenditic magma was stored. The trachytes and comendites originate from fractional crystallization processes and minor assimilation of upper crust material, while the less evolved melts assimilate lower crust material. Syn-eruptive magma mingling occurred during the ME eruption phase. The magma reservoirs of the caldera-forming stage partly reactivate those of the cone-construction stage. The depth of the magma storage zones is controlled by the layering of the crust.The plumbing system of Changbaishan is vertically extensive, with crystal mush reservoirs renewed by the replenishment of new trachytic to trachyandesitic magma from depth. Unlike other volcanoes, evidence of a basaltic recharge is lacking. The interpretation of the signals preceding possible future eruptions should consider the multi-level nature of the Changbaishan plumbing system. A new arrival of magma may destabilize a part of or the entire system, thus triggering eruptions of different sizes and styles. The reference model proposed here for Changbaishan represents a prerequisite to properly understand periods of unrest to potentially anticipate future volcanic eruptions and to identify the mechanisms controlling the evolution of the crust below volcanoes.     

Chemical and mineralogical investigations on deep sea manganese nodules from the Southern Ocean

Deep sea manganese nodules from the Southern Ocean have been studied using chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, optical mineragraphic and electron probe microanalysis techniques. The nodules were lower in manganese, iron and associated elements than the average grade of manganese nodules from other localities. A number of chemical relationships have been observed. Nickel, copper, cobalt, barium, zinc, molybdenum, strontium, sulphur and phosphorus are associated with the manganese rich phases and titanium with the iron rich phases. X-ray diffraction analysis and electron probe microanalysis results indicate that the manganese phases are similar to the disordered -MnO₂ and manganite phases reported by other workers.

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Zusammenfassung Tiefsee-Manganknollen aus dem südlichen Ozean wurden mit Hilfe von chemischen Analysen, Röntgenbeugung, mikroskopischer Untersuchung und Anwendung von Mikroelektronensonden untersucht. Die Knollen enthielten weniger Mangan, Eisen und Begleitelemente als das Durchschnittsquantum in Manganknollen aus anderen Gebieten. Eine Anzahl chemischer Ähnlichkeiten wurde beobachtet. Nickel, Kupfer, Kobalt, Barium, Zink, Molybdän, Strontium, Schwefel und Phosphor treten gemeinsam mit den manganreichen Erscheinungsformen, und Titan zusammen mit den eisenreichen auf. Ergebnisse der Röntgenbeugungsanalyse und Mikroelektronensondenuntersuchung ergaben, daß die Manganphasen Ähnlichkeit haben mit ungeordneten -MnO₂ und manganitischen Erscheinungsformen, über die andere Wissenschaftler berichtet haben.

     

Organic geochemical characteristics of crude oils from the Masila Basin, eastern Yemen

The Masila Basin is an important hydrocarbon province in Yemen, but the origin of hydrocarbons and their generation history are not fully understood. In this regard, 10 crude oils from different petroleum reservoir sections in the Masila Basin were characterized by a variety of biomarker and non-biomarker parameters using GC, GC-MS and stable carbon isotope techniques. Oils from the Masila Basin display pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) ratios ranging from 1.7 to 2.0, low sulfur content, high C₃₅ homohopane index, relatively high C₂₇ sterane concentrations and relatively high tricyclic terpanes suggesting a marine clay source rock that was deposited in mildly anoxic to suboxic conditions with dominantly algal organic matter. C₂₉ 20S/(20S + 20R) steranes and ββ/(ββ + αα) sterane ratios indicate that the Masila oils have reached peak oil window maturity. Another related feature of these oils is the absence of 18α (H)-oleanane, which suggests a source age older than Cretaceous. The carbon isotope compositions are similar to those of the potential source rocks, which range from −25.4‰ to −28.3‰, indicating a marine environment. The new data presented in this paper suggest that the Masila oils constitute one oil family and that the oil originated from the Upper Jurassic Madbi source rock in the basin.     

Structural styles and tectonic evolution of the Kolia-Boboti sedimentary Basin,Kédougou-Kéniéba inlier,eastern Senegal

New structural data obtained on the Birimian terranes of the Kolia-Boboti sedimentary Basin, the eastern part of the Dialé-Daléma Supergroup in the Kédougou-Kéniéba inlier show two major phases of Eburnean compressional deformation: (1) a D1 phase of thrusting tectonics affected the Lower Birimian B1 tourmalinized sediments. This first tectonic phase is characterized by isoclinals overturned to recumbent folds P1 with N040° 20°NE trending axis, associated with axial plane schistosity S₀S₁ which is mainly transposed in the bedding; (2) a D2 phase of compressional (D2a) and transpressional (D2b) tectonics is responsible for the crossfolds P2a-P2b exhibiting curved axes. These P2 folds are associated with the major schistosity S₂, north-south to SW-NE trending, mainly dipping to the south-east. The S₂ schistosity is mostly displayed in the large shear zones corridors where it steeply dips locally toward the north-west. A north-west vergence thrusting phase (D2c) of flats and ramps, associated with reverse folds, represents the last Eburnean event. This geometrical feature is characteristic of a “positive flower structure”. These different Eburnean compressional phases are separated by extensional deformation which is characterized by sedimentary deposits and volcanic flows.     

Carbon isotope analyses of n-alkanes in dust from the lower atmosphere over the central eastern Atlantic

Atmospheric dust samples collected along a transect off the West African coast have been investigated for their lipid content and compound-specific stable carbon isotope compositions. The saturated hydrocarbon fractions of the organic solvent extracts consist mainly of long-chain n-alkanes derived from epicuticular wax coatings of terrestrial plants. Backward trajectories for each sampling day and location were calculated using a global atmospheric circulation model. The main atmospheric transport took place in the low-level trade-wind layer, except in the southern region, where long-range transport in the mid-troposphere occurred. Changes in the chain length distributions of the n-alkane homologous series are probably related to aridity, rather than temperature or vegetation type. The carbon preference of the leaf-wax n-alkanes shows significant variation, attributed to a variable contribution of fossil fuel- or marine-derived lipids. The effect of this nonwax contribution on the δ¹³C values of the two dominant n-alkanes in the aerosols, n-C₂₉ and n-C₃₁ alkane, is, however, insignificant. Their δ¹³C values were translated into a percentage of C₄ vs. C₃ plant type contribution, using a two-component mixing equation with isotopic end-member values from the literature. The data indicate that only regions with a predominant C₄ type vegetation, i.e. the Sahara, the Sahel, and Gabon, supply C₄ plant-derived lipids to dust organic matter. The stable carbon isotopic compositions of leaf-wax lipids in aerosols mainly reflect the modern vegetation type along their transport pathway. Wind abrasion of wax particles from leaf surfaces, enhanced by a sandblasting effect, is most probably the dominant process of terrigenous lipid contribution to aerosols.