Abstract:Atmospheric particle settlings (APSs) are deposited from aerosols and have complex mineral components and chemical composition as well as varied origins. The TEM investigation of long-term atmospheric particle settlings can provide information concerning phase components, morphology and origins of APSs as well as their symbols. According to the investigation in Hefei area, the dust blowing from the surface with clay minerals as the symbol possesses the first importance, the autogenous aerosol related to SO2, CO2 and NO X with gypsum, carbonate, and other soluble salts as the symbols occupies the second importance, the dust from automobiles with nanometer carbon balls as the symbol is the third in importance, and the dust from combustion of coal with silicate microbeads as the symbol is the last in importance. The authors have also found nanometer calcite biomineralization inside bacteria and nanometer apatite at the surface of minerals due to biomineralization outside bacteria and interaction between bacteria and minerals. The TEM investigation provides not only information about origins of aerosols in Hefei area but also effective methods and symbols for determining APSs.