The terrigenous component of lower Paleogene marine sediment can be isolated and subsequently analyzed for precise grain-size measurements. It is probable that an early Paleogene Southern Hemisphere eolian grain-size record can be constructed at Site 1263 on the crest of Walvis Ridge. Interpretation of such a record must consider the mixed eolian-hemipelagic nature of the terrigenous component. Modal grain size may be a more important measurement than median grain size for eolian proxies at this site, as it appears to retain a grain-size distribution signal characteristic of eolian sediments. Sites at greater water depth and on the flank of Walvis Ridge contain a higher abundance of hemipelagic material, which limits their utility for analyses of the eolian component. This probably reflects the general process of hemipelagic deposition, where material settles in waters of sufficiently high density (often >2000 mbsl) to support and transport mineral grains.