Elemental abundances in five stars in M54

We find the cluster to have [Fe/H] = -1.55 and possibly halo-normal abundance patterns, although the [O/Fe] and [{alpha}/Fe] ratios lie between solar and the normal halo values. One star shows the combination of low oxygen and enhanced Na and Al, symptomatic of deep mixing of ON-cycle and other proton-capture products; a second star shows a lesser degree of O depletion unaccompanied by Na and Al excesses.

In the cluster Eu is also enhanced, indicating that about 30% of the Ba in the cluster is due to the r-process. In general, M54 is similar to globulars of comparable metallicity in the inner Galactic halo, despite its clear association with the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal.