Abundances
In this table values are given in units of ppb (parts per billion; 1 billion = 109), both in terms of weight and in terms of numbers of atoms. Values for abundances are difficult to determine with much certainty, so all values should be treated with some caution, especially so for the less common elements. Local concentrations of any element can vary from those given here by orders of magnitude.| View graphs | Abundance | ppb by weight | ppb by atoms |
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| Universe | 3000 | 100 | | Sun | 4000 | 100 | | Meteorite (carbonaceous) | 710000 | 370000 | | Crustal rocks | 15000000 | 7800000 | | Sea water | 416000 | 65800 | | Stream | 2300 | 59 | | Human | 2000000 | 320000 |  |
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Notes
Potassium metal is far too reactive to be found uncombined in nature. The element is quite abundant and makes up about 1.5 % by weight of the earth"s crust. Potassium is found extensively as potash (KOH). It is mined in Germany, USA, and elsewhere. Minerals such as sylvite (KCl), carnallite, and langbeinite, are found in ancient lake and sea beds. That as Saskatchewan in Canada contains about 10,000,000,000 tonnes of potassium chloride. Potassium is found in seawater, but in relatively small amounts compared to sodium. | |
