METEORITES OF NORTH AMERICA. 407 



In general character it approaches most nearly to the stones of Quenggouk (Pegu, India) that fell December 27, 

 1857, differing from them in having more of the fine whitish gangue, and in possessing a thicker and more blebby 

 crust. It also presents points of resemblance to the Aussun (France) meteorite of December 9, 1858; but the latter 

 has a much thinner crust, a darker colored general basis or gangue, much larger globules, and is at the Bame time a 

 firmer stone. 



There is even an internal similarity between the Searsmont meteorite and that of Duralla. They approach each 

 other in thickness and general character of the crust; but the whole of the latter is darker, and the regularity in the 

 shape of its globules is less marked. 



Should I succeed in recovering a portion of the now widely scattered fragments of this interesting stone, I shall 

 enter upon a more detailed examination of its character. 



Smith 2 gave the following analysis of the meteorite: 



Immediately after the fall of this meteoric stone a portion of it was placed in my hands for examination. The 

 circumstances accompanying its fall as well as its physical characters have been described by Professor Shepard. 



It resembles very closely the Mauerkirchen stone that fell in 1768, the crust of the specimens corresponding quite 

 closely to that in thickness and appearance; the Mauerkirchen stone, however, has not well-marked globules like 

 that of Searsmont; in this respect it corresponds more nearly with the Aussun, as already stated by Professor Shepard. 

 The specific gravity of the specimen examined was 3.701. The nickeliferous iron and stony matter were sepa- 

 rated mechanically for analysis. One hundred parts of the meteorite gave — 



Stony matter (including a little sulphuret of iron) 85, 38 



Nickeliferous iron 14. 62 



100. 00 

 The iron afforded: 



Iron 90.02 



Nickel 9. 05 



Cobalt 0. 43 



99.50 

 Phosphorus and copper were not estimated. The stony part, treated with a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric 

 acids, gave: 



Soluble in the acid 52.30 



Insoluble in the acid 47. 70 



100. 00 

 The soluble portion afforded: 



Silica 40. 61 



Protoxide of iron 19. 21 



Magnesia 36. 34 



Sulphuret of iron 3. 06 



99.22 

 Leaving out the sulphuret, which is obviously only a mechanical mixture, this soluble part is evidently an olivine, 



which is almost invariably the case with soluble portions of meteoric stones. The insoluble part was composed as 



follows: 



Silica 56. 25 



Protoxide of iron 13. 02 



Alumina 2. 01 



Magnesia 24. 14 



Alkalies, Na^O, K 3 0, with trace of Li 2 2. 10 



Chrome iron, small black specks not estimated. 



97.52 

 The above analyses give for the composition of the stone: 



Nickeliferous iron 14. 63 



Magnetic pyrites 3. 06 



Olivine 43. 04 



Bronzite or hornblende, with a little albite or orthoclase, and chrome iron . 39. 27 



90.00 

 With the bronzite there may also be enstatite, which would be confounded with the former if existing in the stone. 



Meunier 3 classed the meteorite as Montrejite, and Brezina 4 as a spherical chondrite. 

 Only the 2 pounds obtained by Shepard seems to be known. Of this Amherst has nearly 

 all, Wulfing 5 mentioning in addition 345 grams. 



