METEORITES OF NORTH AMERICA. 349 



the nickel iron, although readily falling into groups. The nickel iron falls into very irregular masses often divided 

 from the troilite by ragged and rounded outlines, the size of the concretions varying from a few millimeters to 3.5 cm. 

 Such a specimen of nickel iron is bounded by a conspicuous, glistening band of kamacite about 0.2 mm. wide bordered 

 with a film of tsenite on each side, from which frequently processes run out into the nickel iron, sometimes in large 

 meandering coils, again in small zigzag lines. Only where these kamacite-tsenite bands border on troilite or on mod- 

 erate masses of schreibersite is the tsenite so lacking that the accessory constituents are surrounded by an envelope of 

 kamacite which is bordered by tsenite only upon outer faces. In all aggregates dense, dull, gray plessite predomi- 

 nates. In the smaller ones occasionally also it appears homogeneous under the microscope and then consists of tiny 

 grains; frequently, however, it breaks up into minute lamellse, which are grouped in extremely pleasing network, 

 and are apparently arranged in conformity with the octahedrons. Many areas exhibit to the unaided eye small bright 

 spangles or beautiful tracery, each branch of which consists of a tiny complete lamellse. Larger concrete masses con- 

 tain in varying number — always, however, in subordination — octahedral lamellse 0.05 mni. in breadth which some- 

 times lie isolated, but are as a rule grouped in bundles. Such portions may be compared, from their formation, with 

 Tazewell. In the neighborhood of the before-mentioned silicate masses the octahedral structure is interrupted, and 

 here especially are found the twisted spiral kamacite-tsenite bands, as if replacing the lamellse. 



Persimmon Creek is a granular octahedrite with framework of finest lamellse which differentiates itself from the 

 rest by the peculiar swathing of the grains, as well as by the troilite, which occurs as a sort of filling and in common 

 with Copiapo has silicate particles. 



The following further description is given by Klein 3 of a specimen in the Berlin collection: 



Upon a plate 3.4 cm. long by the same width, after etching, there appear numerous small particles divided by a 

 black substance which show the finest lamellse of an octahedral iron. The remarkable thing about it is that these 

 lamellse upon one field form rectangles, upon another rhombic or triangular or irregularly four-sided figures. 



The octahedral, nickeliferous iron is therefore met with in the individual portions and areas in the form of cubes, 

 dodecahedrons, octahedrons, or other forms. 



We have here then either a breccia with a variable orientation of the individual portions, or, as in the case of Muke- 

 rop, an intricate twinning according to the octahedral form. Closer investigation on a larger surface is required to 

 distinguish this. 



The iron contains magnetic iron sulphide (magnetic pyrites), in addition to particles of rhabdite and also dark, 

 apparently siliceous inclusions. These consist of rhombic and monoclinic augite, doubtless also olivine, which on its 

 part lies in a groundmass of pyrites or iron. In so far the iron resembles that of Netschaevo on account of its meso- 

 sideritic inclusions, and is to be designated as OmN. It also approaches nearly to the brecciated, siliceous iron Of. 

 b. K of Kodaikanal, but is different from that and must be regarded as a new species— Persimmon Creek. In respect 

 to the octahedral irons it is one with finest lamellse Off., while because of the brecciated structure it is b, and because 

 of the siliceous character and total peculiarities is P, or as a whole, OffbP. 



The meteorite is chiefly preserved in the United States National Museum. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



1. 1903: Cohen. Mitth. naturwiss. Verein Greifswald. 



2. 1904: Tassin. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 27, pp. 955-959 (with plates 49 and 50). 



3. 1904: Klein. Sitzber K. Preus. Akad. Wissensch., vol. 32, p. 572. 



Phillips County. See Long Island. 

 Pine Bluff. See Little Piney. 



PETERSBURG. 



Lincoln County, Tennessee. 



Latitude 35° 18' N., longitude 86° 35' W. 



Stone. Howardite (Ho.) of Brezina; type 47 of Meunier. 



Fell 3.30 p. m. August 5, 1855; described 1856. 



Weight, 1.7 kgs. (4 lbs.). 



The first extended account of this meteorite was given by Shepard 2 as follows: 



A brief account of this stone is contained in the Geological Reconnaissance of Tennessee by Prof. James M. Safford, 

 the geologist of the State. I shall first give the substance of his account and then subjoin some observations of my own 

 derived from an examination of the entire specimen which, through the kindness of Professor Safford, I have been 

 permitted to make. 



The particulars of the fall were communicated by the Rev. T. C. Blake, of Cumberland University. The stone, 

 which at first weighed 3 pounds, fell 2 miles west of Petersburg, in Lincoln County, at about 3.30 p. m. August 5, 1855, 



