372 On American Meteoric Iron, 



about 12 by 9^ inches. None of the metallic meteorites, that I have 

 seen, exhibit such beautiful Widmannstattean figures which have 

 become visible on its polished surface, without the aid of acid. It 

 shews rhomboidal and triangular sections, which are generally a full 

 inch, and a few more than an inch in length. These figures cover 

 uniformly the whole of the polished surface. No heterogeneous 

 materials are visible in it. There is only one cavity of about half an 

 inch on its surface. 



The unpolished part is partly crystallized and partly amorphous 

 and compact. Some crystals (parts of octahedrons) project for more 

 than an inch above the mass. The iron is very tough and malleable ; 

 and, as it contains no traces of pyrites, not susceptible of being acted 

 upon by atmospheric agencies. A partial analysis has convinced me 

 that it contains a notable proportion of nickel ; the other components 

 I have not ascertained. 



2. Meteoric Iron from Jackson County, Tennessee. — I am also 

 indebted to my friend, S. Morgan, for the knowledge of a variety of 

 meteoric iron, which is found in Jackson County in this State. Mr M. 

 received only a sample of it ; but its history, quantity, and quality, 

 are still kept in profound secrecy, as it is yet considered as silver, and 

 its owner is looking out for its original deposit. The piece in my 

 possession weighs 15 ounces. It is an accumulation of large crystals, 

 some of an octahedral, others of a tetrahedral form — of a very soft 

 malleable iron. Its bold and vivid crystals distinguish it from the 

 other Tennessee meteoric iron. 



It was accompanied by some fragments of the crust of meteoric 

 iron, weighing 3|^ ounces. It is a hydroxide of iron, of a brown and 

 yellow colour, penetrated here and there with metallic iron itself, 

 differs very much from the last-named iron. This crust, and the 

 bold crystalline structure, shews that the original mass must have 

 been large. 



3. Meteoric Iron from Livingston County, Kentucky. — Some 

 six or seven years since a piece of metal was handed me with the 

 request that I would see how much silver it contained. When I 

 told the person who shewed it, that it did not contain silver, and was 

 only iron, he became displeased, and departed without answering my 

 queries as to its locality, quantity, &c. Some years after I received 

 another piece of it from a different person. I convinced him that 

 it was iron ; but all the information I could obtain was that an 

 abundance of it was found, and as he intended to purchase the land 

 on which it occurred, he refused to mention the locality, but pro- 

 mised to send me a large piece of it. The man did not keep his 

 promise, and I have not heard of him since. But some time last 

 year Colonel Player of Nashville mentioned to me that he had the 

 offer of a tract of land on which such iron-ore (shewing the iden- 

 tical meteoric iron) was in abundance ; he thought it was ore of an 

 excellent quality, and that it did not require any preparation, and 



