Four Namib soil samples were fractionated by dry sieving and aerosol generation. The elemental composition of the dry sieved fractions was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis, while the elemental composition of the aerosol fractions was determined by particle induced X-ray emission. The concentration of the elements Al, Si, K, Rb and Sr did not vary with the particle size for the entire particle size range. The concentration of Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Y and Zr increased when the particle size decreased. Crustal rock, average soil, bulk Namib soil, the smallest fraction of Namib soil and the aerosol fraction of Namib soil, were compared as reference material for enrichment factor calculations. For some elements the enrichment factor varied significantly depending on the choice of the reference material. The elemental ratios in the mineral aerosol were compared with those in the Namib atmospheric aerosol and this confirmed a marine contribution to S, Cl, and Sr in the Namib aerosol. A comparison with the ratios in aerosol from South America showed the differences which exist in mineral aerosol composition from different regions. Keywords: Soil fractionation, mineral aerosol, Namib Desert, X-ray fluorescence, particle induced X-ray emission.