On the Origin and Composition of Hydrogen and Carbon in Meteorites

As a continuation of our previous studies (Yang and Epstein, 1982; Robert and Epstein, 1982), 19 bulk meteorites and 40 acid treated meteorites of all types were analyzed for their concentration and isotopic composition of hydrogen and carbon. Bulk samples show terrestrial δD values with some exceptions. There is no relationship between δD and hydrogen or carbon content, δ^(13)C, class, etc. However, we find that there are positive relationships between δD in acid residues and hydrogen or carbon content. These correlations seem to be independent of meteoritic class or petrologic types.