Estimation of stellar metal abundance. II.

The equivalent width of the Ca II K line (3933{AA}) as a function of [Fe/H] and broadband B-V color, as predicted from spectrum synthesis and model atmosphere calculations, is compared with observations of 551 stars with high-resolution abundances available from the literature (a sevenfold increase in the number of calibration stars that were previously available).

A second method, based on the Fourier autocorrelation function technique first described by Ratnatunga & Freeman (1989, Cat. <V/65>), is used to provide an independent estimate of [Fe/H], as calibrated by comparison with 405 standard-star abundances.