  The trace metals and mineralogical composition of harmattan dust carried out
on the samples collected at Jos ((9 55'N, 8 55'E)) and Potiskum ((11 43'N, 11
02'E) as revealed by PIXE and AAS machine using clean Petri Dishes and Plastic
bowls of 10 cm in diameter aimed on the characteristics of the mineralogical
and elemental composition of the harmattan dust carried out in Nigeria.
Thirteen trace elements, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cd, Zn, Mn, Cu, Si, Al, Ti, and Zr
were determined and their concentrations were evaluated in different
proportion. Minerals such as Quartz [SiO2], Corundum [Al2O3], Hematite [Fe2O3],
Lime [CaO], Periclase [MgO], Rutile [TiO2], Zincite [MnO], Bunsenite [NiO],
Cuprite [Cu2O], Zincite [ZnO], Baddeleyite [ZrO2], Litharge [PbO], Monazite
[P2O5], Montrodydite [HgO] and Petzite [Au2O3] were also determined in
different concentrations. The particle weight of the sample for the residential
and commercial areas were calculated to be Jos (18.95g/m2, 19.25g/m2), Potiskum
(24.24 g/m2, 2515g/m2) respectively. The results shows that the harmattan dust
that blows across the two stations in Nigeria comprise of high elements and
more minerals.
