R chondrites are among the most oxidized chondrite groups; they also have the highest Δ¹⁷O values known in whole-rock meteorites. We analyzed R chondrites (six Antarctic, four hot-desert) by instrumental neutron-activation analysis. Data for one of the former and three of the latter show large weathering effects, but the remainder show only moderate scatter and permit us to determine trends and mean compositions for the group. Bulk R-chondrite compositions are similar to those in H and L chondrites, but the concentrations of several volatiles, especially Se and Zn, are higher; the more volatile the element, the higher the enrichment in R chondrites relative to H and L.
Petrologic types in R chondrites extend as low as 3.6. We determined olivine compositional distributions and studied opaque oxides in 15 R-chondrite thin sections, including a newly discovered R4 clast in Bencubbin (adding to the diversity of chondritic clasts in this polymict breccia) and an R clast in CM2 Murchison. Opaque oxides in R chondrites include nearly pure magnetite, Al-rich chromite, magnetite-chromite solid solution, nearly pure chromite, and ilmenite. This diverse set of opaque phases reflects differing aqueous-alteration conditions.
The least equilibrated R chondrites contain nearly pure magnetite but the spinels in metamorphosed R chondrites contain additional components (e.g., Cr₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ and some minor cations). The NiO content in olivine correlates with the magnetite component in magnetite-chromite solid solution in equilibrated R chondrites and is a function of the degree of oxidation. The absence of metallic Fe in A-881988 and LAP 031156 indicates a high degree of oxidation; the relatively low-FeO (Fa35) olivine in these rocks in part reflects the conversion of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺ and its partitioning into magnetite. Oxidation trends in R chondrites are affected by both aqueous alteration and thermal metamorphism. The differing degrees of oxidation in this group reflect differences in local environments on the parent asteroid.