Search for extractable fullerenes in the Allende meteorite

In an effort to confirm earlier observations of fullerenes in the Allende meteorite by Becker et al. (1994), we have treated nine separate whole‐rock chips of this meteorite with toluene to search for extractable C60 and C70 fullerenes. The analysis was done with high performance liquid chromatography. Less than 1 ppb C60 and C70 were detected in a total of 131.82 g of this meteorite. Becker et al. (1994) have estimated a content of 100 ppm in one Allende sample. Either they have grossly overestimated the C60 content of their sample, or Allende is very inhomogeneous concerning fullerenes.