The　characteristics　of　urban　dust　aerosols　and　the　contributions　of　their　natural　and　anthropogenic　sources　are　of　scientific　interest　as　well　as　being　of　substantial　sociopolitical　and　economic　concern.　Here　we　present　a　comprehensive　study　of　dust　flux,　magnetic　parameters,　magnetic　particulate　morphology,　and　elemental　compositions　of　atmospheric　dustfall　originating　from　natural　dust　sources　in　East　Asia　and　local　anthropogenic　sources　in　Xi＇an,　China.　The　results　reveal　a　significant　inverse　relationship　between　seasonal　variations　of　dust　flux　and　magnetic　susceptibility　(chi).　By　comparing　dust　flux　and　chi　records,　the　relative　contributions　of　dust　from　local　anthropogenic　sources　are　estimated.　Analyses　using　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　combined　with　energy　dispersive　spectroscopy　(EDS)　indicate　that　magnetic　particulate　from　different　sources　has　distinct　morphological　and　elemental　characteristics.　Detrital　magnetic　particles　originating　from　natural　sources　are　characterized　by　relatively　smooth　surfaces　with　Fe　and　O　as　the　major　elements　and　a　minor　contribution　from　Ti.　The　anthropogenic　particles　have　angular,　spherical,　aggregate,　and　porous　shapes　with　distinctive　contributions　from　marker　elements,　including　S,　Cr,　Cu,　Zn,　Ni,　Mn,　and　Ca.　Our　results　demonstrate　that　this　multidisciplinary　approach　is　effective　in　distinguishing　dust　particles　derived　from　distant　natural　sources　and　local　anthropogenic　sources　and　for　the　quantitative　assessment　of　contributions　from　the　two　end-members.