Samples of Wisconsin surface soils are being analyzed by X-ray fluorescence analysis, neutron activation analysis, and inductively coupled-plasma optical emission spectroscopy for about one-half of the elements in the periodic table. The resulting information is the first comprehensive database giving the element composition of soils for a large geographic region in North America. Wisconsin soils include glaciated and nonglaciated regions. A preliminary evaluation of statewide soils shows that while the concentrations of elements in the total soils show significant spatial variation, the concentrations of elements in the less than 2 micrometers size fraction are relatively uniform. The variation in element concentrations in the total soils is related to the content of quartz. The effects of various dispersion reagents on the composition of the less than 2 micrometer size fraction are being determined.