Physical and Geochemical Characterization of Mineral Dust Samples Collected by the DUST^2 Project and Precursors, 2011–2025

Abstract. Mineral dust is a key component of Earth’s Critical Zone, transporting minerals, nutrients, and trace elements across regions and linking distant components of the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, yet quantitative understanding of these connections is limited by the availability of spatially distributed, well-characterized datasets. Here, we present a multi-year dataset of mineral dust samples collected as part of the DUST^2 Critical Zone Thematic Cluster and precursor projects using a network of 20 passive dust collectors deployed across a source-to-sink transect from arid dust-emitting regions of the Great Basin to downwind mountain environments in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. The dataset includes measurements of major and trace element concentrations, CIELAB colour parameters, and grain size distributions, together with metadata describing sampling protocols, site characteristics, temporal coverage, and analytical methods. Consistent sampling and analytical procedures enable direct comparison across sites and years, supporting evaluation of spatial patterns in dust properties, and temporal variability associated with hydroclimatic forcing and land-surface change. This dataset is designed to support a wide range of applications, including dust source apportionment, evaluation of atmospheric transport and deposition models, and assessment of atmospheric contributions to soil development, nutrient cycling, and water quality in downwind ecosystems. By providing a standardized, openly accessible record of dust composition across a well-constrained source-to-sink system, this contribution enhances data availability for studies of aeolian processes and Critical Zone dynamics and provides a transferable framework for investigating dust-driven connectivity in other regions experiencing expanding dust emissions.