458 MEMOIRS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, VOL. XIII. 



A test made for sulphur, on the same sample analyzed above, showed only a possible trace, but an examination 

 was made of a sample of turnings, somewhat oxidized, and a very perceptible precipitate of barium sulphate was 

 obtained. Scattered over the polished surface may be seen occasional long slender crystals, sometimes branching, 

 also several nodular masses of a bronze color. These are without doubt troilite (iron-nickel sulphide). The larger 

 particles are near the center of the polished end, as though the last to crystallize. The troilite can not be seen till 

 the surface has been polished with oil and emery. As this mineral is so irregularly distributed there was probably 

 only a very small quantity in the particular piece analyzed. The Widmannstatten figures came out very perfectly 

 with nitric acid. * * * The octahedral form of crystallization is apparent, but it is not possible to distinguish the 

 Neumann lines that are believed to indicate the cubic form of crystallization. It is, however, possible, as some 

 observers have noted, that some other surface, if polished, would show this form. A crack extends across the surface 

 on the etched side, and other small cracks lead into it. These are all filled with a black mineral, probably made up 

 of the oxidized m,etals. The cracks in an irregular way follow the lines between the crystals. 



On examining this meteorite with the magnetic needle, it was found that there are several distinct poles. Mr. A. 

 G. Mayer has plotted the lines of magnetic force, so as to show their true relation. The position of the poles might 

 be expected to be near the ends, but this is not the case in this specimen. 



As the meteorite is irregular as described, and quite flat and comparatively free from cavities on one side, the 

 question naturally arises, Is it not a fragment thrown off from a much larger mass? A careful examination of the mass 

 will render such a theory, to say the least, very probable, but whether this mass was brought here by human or geologic 

 agencies, or whether its companions still exist in the vicinity, it is at present impossible to state. A careful search 

 in the vicinity of the farm where it was found fails to reveal any other specimens. 



The meteorite is somewhat distributed, the University of Kansas possessing the main mass. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



1. 1891: Snow. Mention in Science for January 2, 1891. 



2. 1891: Bailey. The Tonganoxie meteorite. Amer. Journ. Sci., 3d ser., vol. 42, pp. 385-387. (Analysis, illustra- 



tion of the iron, and an etching.) 



TRAVIS COUNTY. 

 Texas. 



Latitude 30° 20' N., longitude 97° 43' W. 

 Stone. Black chondrite (Cs), of Brezina. 

 Found ?; described 1890. 

 Weight, 2 kgs. (5 lbs.). 



This meteorite was described by Eakins ' as follows: 



This meteorite was found in Travis County, Texas, and brought to notice by Prof. R. T. Hill, of the University 

 of Texas, who presented the piece first obtained by him to the United States National Museum. This piece, of an 

 irregular shape, and weighing about 2.5 kg., is supposed to be but a fragment of a much larger mass. 



It has a superficial coating of a yellowish-brown color where it has been subjected to weathering, but on a frac- 

 tured, unaltered surface it is dull black with a slight grayish tinge. It is hard, compact, and very tough; to the 

 unaided eye the stony mass is very uniform in structure, and none of the composing silicates can be distinguished, 

 but troilite can be plainly seen scattered through it, and on a polished surface the metallic particles are also visible. 

 Under the microscope, the stony portion seems to consist chiefly of olivine and enstatite, with a small quantity of a 

 colorless mineral, which is probably a feldspar; the analysis also indicates the presence of a feldspar, while chromite 

 was also unmistakably present. The mass has a specific gravity of 3.543 at 30°, and its analysis as a whole is as 

 follows: gi()2 44 75 



A1 2 3 2. 72 



Cr 2 3 52 



Cu trace 



FeO 16. 04 



Fe 1. 83 



NiO 52 



Ni 22 



Co... 01 



MnO trace 



CaO 2. 23 



MgO 27. 93 



K 2 13 



Na 2 1. 13 



PA « 



S 1. 83 



H 2 84 



101. 11 

 Less O for S 92 



100. 19 



