The characteristics of gamma-hadron families induced by primary cosmic rays with an energy more than 10 PeV

Parameters R ¯ > , ER ¯ > of gamma-hadron families with a visible energy Σ E γ ≥ 100 TeV are analysed with the aim to prove their sensitivity to the mass composition of primary cosmic rays (PCR). The experimental values of these parameters are in agreement with the assumption that PCR become enriched with CNO nuclei at an energy ≥ 10 16 PeV.