May, 1902. Meteorite Studies, I — Farrixgtox. 293 



have at my disposal four pieces, amounting in weight to 20-30 grams. 

 They possess a rusty weathered surface. Many hundred similar 

 pieces were found (in part with crust), having a total weight of 1,184 

 pounds. The meteorite of Long Island is a compact, dark stone, 

 which appears dark green on fresh fracture and shows numerous 

 metallic specks. The crystalline structure is megascopically visible; 

 there are numerous shining cleavage surfaces and the meteorite 

 resembles the fine-grained harzburgite from Riddles, Oregon. Chondri 

 are only now and then to be seen. Under the microscope it is clearly 

 seen that chrysolite and bronzite are the characteristic ingredients. 

 The structure as well as the relations in quantity of the two constit- 

 uents are very variable, the chrysolite now being in excess and now 

 again the pyroxene, and the general porphyritic structure passes com- 

 monly enough over to a purely granular one. Chondrus-like forms are 

 found throughout, but they are seldom developed in an especially 

 characteristic way. Ragged particles of metallic iron, numerous 

 grains of iron sulphide (troilite?) and chromite complete its compo- 

 sition. The chrysolite occurs generally in porphyritic, more or less 

 idiomorphic crystals, and in fragments. In the fresh condition it is 

 colorless, but on slight heating it becomes reddish brown and 

 pleochroic, and at red heat completely opaque, indicating a high con- 

 tent of iron. The cleavage of the mineral is always clearly developed, 

 and this shows in many cases undulatory extinction. It is very rich 

 in inclusions, generally appearing as dark-brown rounded forms 

 which often show regular arrangement. In the weathered portions 

 there occurs beside iron hydroxide, a serpentine-like substance as an 

 alteration product of the chrysolite. The orthorhombic pyroxene is 

 likewise colorless and transparent and may be classed as bronzite. 

 It tends to form groups of larger individuals where the stone has 

 granular structure; in smaller crystals it occurs also as a constituent 

 of the ground mass in the porphyritic forms. Its distribution in the 

 stone can best be seen if a section is treated with hydrochloric acid. 

 This dissolves out the chrysolite but leaves the pyroxene unattacked. 

 In sections so treated it can especially well be seen that the bronzite 

 where it occurs as a constituent of the ground mass often exhibits 

 skeleton growths which lie imbedded in a colorless substance and are 

 not attacked by hydrochloric acid. This has weak refraction and 

 between crossed nicols shows irregular illumination so that it is not 

 improbable that it is a glassy substance possessing optical anomalies 

 through strains. Rarely, besides the orthorhombic pyroxene there is 

 to be seen a monoclinic augite in single grains, with the properties of 

 diallage. The solid iron occurs in angular particles and often in 



