WE PROPOSE A THREE-YEAR FIELD AND LABORATORY ANALOG STUDY OF MODERN AND ANCIENT AEOLIAN ENVIRONMENTS AT PADRE ISLAND TEXAS AND ENTRADA SANDSTONE UTAH TO TEST THESE HYPOTHESES. OUR PRIMARY OBJECTIVES ARE TO: (1) DETERMINE THE MODES OF AEOLIAN TRANSPORT OF MICROBIAL AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTAL MATERIAL. (2) DETERMINE THE AEOLIAN DEPOCENTERS FOR MICROBIAL MATERIAL AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTAL MATERIAL. (3) CHARACTERIZE THE GEOCHEMICAL AND SEDIMENTARY TEXTURES OF MODERN AND ANCIENT AEOLIAN ENVIRONMENTS USING XRF TECHNOLOGY.