Fig. 8: Plot of lead isotope ratios.

The fine fraction of European loess is compared to the <5 μm fractions of samples from various sites: US, Chinese and Alaskan loess, Gobi desert and GISP2 samples⁴². Samples from 2024 dust storms reaching Europe, Grenoble, and collected by one of us are also indicated. Samples from Saharan dust, Bodele depression, Sal Islands⁴³ and Saharan and Sahelian potential source area samples⁴⁴ are also shown. a ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and b ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb versus ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb.