This study examines the emission of PM10 (particulate matter <10 [mu]m), from a clay-crusted playa using a portable field wind tunnel. The results of this study illustrate that the sustained emission of PM 10 from a crusted surface is dependent on the presence of saltating grains. However, the association between the emission of PM10 and the saltation transport rate is not a simple bivariate relationship. The ability of the sand to abrade the surface, the abrasion efficiency, was found to depend on a balance between the energy available for abrasion and the ability of that surface to release PM10. Specifically, the abrasion efficiency was found to vary with the velocity of the saltating grains, the amount of surface disturbance, crust strength, and crust texture. The results of this study also illustrate how variations in the texture and structure of the crust can limit the effectiveness of emission models on natural surfaces.