Lithium,sodium and potassium abundances in carbonaceous chondrites

Concentrations of lithium, sodium, and potassium in 18 carbonaceous chondrites were determined in the same sample solution by atomic absorption. Mean abundances in carbonaceous Type I chondrites are, in atoms 10⁶ Si: Li = 60.1, Na = 5800, K = 3700. Relative to Type I carbonaceous chondrites, abundances in Type II's are: Li = 0.87, Na = 0.61, K = 0.58; and in Type III's Li = 0.82, Na = 0.49, K = 0.36. Evidently there is a differential depletion of potassium relative to sodium in Type III's, suggesting a fractionation after accretion.