Lanthanides in altered oceanic tholeiite were determined by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis. Potassium content was employed as a measure of degree of alteration. Lanthanide concentrations in moderately altered parts of tholeiite (K2O content below 1%) were identical with those in'unaltered parts while light lanthanide concentrations in more altered parts (K2O content above 1%) increased with degree of alteration.