224 Mr ALLAN on a mass of Native Iron 



structure, or else, though technically termed spongy, were wholly 

 composed of metallic iron, alloyed as they all are with nickel. 

 It is consequently interesting to find that a mineral so entirely 

 similar to that of Siberia, should have been found abounding in 

 the opposite hemisphere, as appears by the following very curious 

 statement contained in the extracts of two letters from Buenos 

 Ayres, and so abounding as to render it a matter of great asto- 

 nishment. 



" Account received by Dr REDHEAD ; of the Native Iron from the 



Province of Atacama. 



" The specimens were taken from a heap of the same nature, 

 esteemed at about three quintals. They exist at the mouth of 

 a vein of solid iron (barra), half a yard wide, situated at the foot 

 of a mountain. The opposite plain is strewed with similar frag- 

 ments. The Indian who brought these, calls them " Reventa- 

 zones," supposing them to be produced by explosions from the 

 mines. He had been charged to bring a piece of the vein itself, 

 and some of the rock in which it is imbedded ; but this he says he 

 could not effect for want of tools. He therefore contented him- 

 self with picking up some pieces that were at the foot of the hill, 

 where the mouth of the vein opens. If it be true, as, from the 

 probity of the Indian, who is well known from previous informa- 

 tion, and from general report, we must believe it to be, that the 

 metal is in a vein, it ought to be considered as the first pheno- 

 menon of this nature that has occurred. What MARGRAFF found 

 found in Saxony was probably not of this kind." 



Extract of a Letter from WOODBINE PARISH, Esq. Buenos Ayres, 



April 1827. 



The account given by Dr REDHEAD has since been fully 

 confirmed, by other accounts from different persons. This iron 



