2 H. HENSOLDT ON FLUID CAVITIES IN METEORITES. 



Immediately afterwards, or at the same time, he noticed, in an 

 adjoining field, fragments of earth and stone flying up as if the soil 

 were being penetrated by some body displaying great force in its 

 downward course. 



The penetrating substance, which was found broken, or rather 

 cracked, in several places, was subsequently discovered about 25 inches 

 under the surface. It was an elongated, roundish mass, whose 

 greatest diameter was about 11 inches; but a piece, which evidently 

 had been severed from it by explosion before it reached the ground, 

 and which must have been pretty large, was missing. In spite of 

 very careful search in the neighbouring fields, this fragment was 

 never found. The mass, which in the main presented the outlines 

 of an irregular cone, had several branch-like protuberances on 

 various parts of its surface ; and showed every sign of having been 

 in a state of fusion. Except where the missing portion was broken 

 off, it exhibited no sharp ridges or edges ; every part of its exterior 

 being smooth and roundish. Though when dug out no longer 

 warm, there were evidences pointing to the conclusion that it was 

 in a highly heated condition when entering the ground. 

 Portions of the somewhat sandy soil were found fused toge- 

 ther, in close proximity to its position ; and the sur- 

 face of the object itself was covered with a thin crust, which, on 

 after-examination, proved to possess no relationship with the com- 

 ponent parts of the interior, and which evidently could have only 

 been acquired by a highly heated substance coming in contact with 

 fusible, sandy materials. The complete weight of all the frag- 

 ments found was a little over 121bs., and if we estimate the size of 

 the missing piece by the proportions of the mass discovered, the 

 weight of the complete meteorite may have been 201bs. All the 

 pieces found were obtained by my father, Mr. M. Hensoldt, of 

 Wetzlar, who has still the greatest part of them in his possession. 



Steps were then taken to ascertain, if possible, the nature of the 

 components of this interesting visitor from another sphere, and not 

 being sufficiently familiar with the tests furnished by analytical 

 chemistry as to have direct resort to that means, but possessing 

 some experience in determining the components of a mineral by 

 microscopical investigation, we set to work by selecting one of the 

 fragments, and cutting it into pieces in order to obtain a number 

 of thin sections. In preparing these sections great difficulty was 

 experienced owing to the extreme hardness of the material. Emery 



