Alpha-elements in mildly metal-poor stars

Accurate relative abundances of light elements (C to Ca) have been obtained in a sample of mildly metal-poor stars (Decauwer et al. 2005). Combined with the results of a previous study (Jehin et al. 1999), we find different slopes in the correlations between the different alpha-elements. These results can be explained by postulating that the stars exhibiting lower than average alpha/Fe form in low mass clouds, unable to sustain the formation of very massive stars.