from Claihorne^ Clarke County, Alabama. 351 



near the spot where this was found ; but it is not probable 

 that they abound to the extent imagined. I beg leave, how- 

 ever, to call tiie attention of travellers to the locality men- 

 tioned, where the remainder of the specimen still exists neg- 

 lected. 



Description of the Specimen. — It is of an irregular form, 

 rounded upon all the sides excepting on that where it was 

 fractured, which presents a rough hackly surface, with pro- 

 jecting, bright, silvery streaks, and deep greenish and brown 

 eroded surfaces, from which an exudation of green liquid 

 takes place, on exposing the specimen to moist air. 



The rounded surface is coated with a thin layer of the sub- 

 cJiloride of iron, which being removed, the mass is found to 

 consist of metallic matter, resembling wrought iron, when the 

 specimen is filed bright. On attempting to break off a frag- 

 ment, the mass was found to be extremely tough and mal- 

 leable, so as to require the aid of a file and cutting-chisel. 



Sp. gr. on three separate fragments from different parts of 

 the mass, 5*750, 6*400 and 6*500. The whole mass weighs 

 28 ounces avoirdupois. 



Having washed the specimen in distilled water several 

 times, I tiled one side of it bright, and left it exposed to the air 

 in my cabinet. In a few days, numerous grass-green drops 

 of liquid began to collect on its surface, and became externally 

 coated with a thin brown film. This liquid had a slight alka- 

 line astringent taste, butgave noalkaline reaction with turmeric 

 paper or Brazil wood solution. A few drops collected in a 

 test tube and diluted with water, gave an abundant thick curdy 

 "iSohite precipitate, with a solution of nitrate of silver, showing 

 the presence of chlorine in combination. Ferro-cyanate of 

 potash gave a blue precipitate, indicative of iron, and ammonia 

 gave a precipitate o^ \he hydrated peroxide of iron. Muriate 

 of ammonia having been added to a little more of the exuda- 

 tion, the peroxide of iron was precipitated by ammonia, and 

 the remaining liquid was of a pale blue colour, indicative of 

 nickel, and on addition of pure potash, hydrate of nickel 

 formed in a bulky green precipitate. 



Thus the green drops in question were proved to be com- 

 posed of the hydro-chlorates of nickel and iron, and they 

 doubtless form from the action of the moisture of the atmo- 

 sphere upon the metallic chlorides contained in the meteorite. 



Analysis of the mass. — Several fragments of the specimen 

 having been cut off by means of a steel chisel and hammer, 

 their specific gravities were ascertained, and they were then 

 subjected to analysis. 



Specimen 1. A fragment weighing 25 grains, sp. gr. 



