Chemical studies of H chondrites — 7. Contents of Fe3+ and labile trace elements in Antarctic samples

Abstract— Linear discriminant analysis and logistic regression have been applied to concentration data for 10 labile trace elements (Rb, Ag, Se, Cs, Te, Zn, Cd, Bi, Tl and In) in 33 Antarctic H4–6 chondrites. The proportion of bulk Fe in the Fe³⁺ state, Fe³⁺/Fe, of these same chondrites permit their assignment to less- and more-weathered suites. Wherever the division between these suites is placed, the results are identical and consistent with the null hypothesis that the suites sample a single preterrestrial compositional population. Hence, no evidence exists that preterrestrial contents of labile trace elements in Antarctic H4–6 chondrites have been significantly altered by weathering as quantified by Fe³⁺/Fe or the A-B-C weathering index.