The abundance of mercury in meteorites and rocks by neutron activation analysis

Abstract

Mercury abundances have been determined in all classes of chondritic meteorites, the principle classes of achondritic meteorites, alkali and tholeiitic basalts, differentiated tholeiitic basalt intrusions, possible lower crustal and upper mantle rock inclusions, and a collection of six standard crustal rocks. The analytical method used was based on thermal neutron activation. Relatively high mercury abundances in the carbonaceous chondrites, previously reported by Reed, Kigoshi and Turkevich, have been confirmed. Abundance data among the various classes of chondrites and achondrites suggest a more complex behavior for mercury in the evolution of the meteorites than had been previously proposed. Possible lower crustal or upper mantle materials exhibit high mercury abundances in the range of the basic achondrites while six standard crustal rocks have abundances in the range of only 0·004–0·04 ppm. Implications of the data with respect to the estimation of cosmic abundances, and the evolution of the meteorites and the earth are discussed.