Benford’s law: Applications to ordinary‐chondrite mass distributions

Abstract For ordinary‐chondrite (OC) mass distributions, Benford’s law applies to the set of individual objects that survive intact on Earth’s surface after atmospheric disruption meteoroids. Among OCs, Antarctic finds conform more closely than observed falls, Northwest Africa (NWA) finds, or Oman mainly because OCs tend be relatively unweathered (and mostly intact) and have not been aggregated as pairs under collective meteorite names. Deviations from can result tampering with data sets. The OC falls reflects original Benford distribution (produced by meteoroid disruption) deliberate aggregation paired samples inefficiencies in collection small samples. sets NWA affected natural “tampering” distributions principally terrestrial weathering, which cause sample disintegration. were also non‐systematic influenced commercial considerations; collectors preferred type‐3 revealed high proportions such specimens among chondrites relative those finds. percentage type‐4 is appreciably lower This suggests are friable disintegrate into numerous pieces; these counted individually for but collectively falls. However, fact percentages generally higher may break pieces preferentially lost.