242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



Ad additional reason for believing Dr. Cooper's observations to be correct is, 

 that the locality lies in the prolongation of the path or belt in which a consider- 

 able number of masses of meteoric iron have already been found. It is certainly 

 either a very interesting fact, or else a remarkable coincidence, that the localities 

 of meteoric iron in Arizona and northern Mexico, lie nearly in a straight line 

 with each other, which line extends from northwest to southeast, for a distance 

 of twelve hundred and fifty miles, or from the Colorado River, at La Paz, to the 

 province of San Luis Potosi. in Mexico. Along this line, at points from two 

 hundred to two hundred and fifty miles apart, in some places one mass of iron, 

 and in others quite a number of them, have fallen, indicating very strongly a 

 common origin for the whole, or that they may all be fragments of one immense 

 meteor which passed diagonally across the continent, throwing otf masses in its 

 progress. The large mass of iron discovered by Dr. Evans, on Bald Mountain, 

 near Port Orford, in Oregon, is in a locality not far distant from the path of 

 the supposed meteor. 



The belt of meteoric iron masses may also be prolonged much farther to the 

 south, through Mexico, and in the same general southeasterly direction, as far 

 as the province of Oaxaca. The localities in the provinces of DuraDgo, Zaca- 

 tecas, Mexico, and Oaxaca lie very nearly in the same northwest-southeast 

 direction from each other ; but are in a line a little to the west of the main 

 belt which has been traced down from the Colorado River. It is certain that 

 the central part of Mexico has been highly favored in respect to the distribu- 

 tion of meteoric iron masses, which are not only of frequent occurrence, but 

 often of large size. Perhaps it may be not too wild a speculation to suggest, 

 that the grand disruption of the meteor may have taken place in this part of its 

 course, and that the fragments were scattered far and wide in all directions. It 

 certainly seems difficult to account for the peculiar position of the masses of 

 iron found on the Pacific side of the continent, and their great abundance in 

 central Mexico, on any other theory than the one which has here been suggested. 



Authorities are not at hand for comparing the chemical composition of all 

 the masses belonging to this series, or belt, which have been analyzed ; but it is 

 my impression that those meteoric irons which have been examined do resemble 

 each other sufficiently, in the nature and proportion of the ingredients they con- 

 tain, to add to the probability of their having had a common origin. The 

 specimens thus far analyzed do not represent more than half the localities known 

 to exist. A farther and more complete investigation of the physical and 

 chemical character of all the meteoric masses of Arizona and Mexico, with 

 reference to the possibility of their being originally parts of one body, is sug- 

 gested as an interesting subject for those specially devoted to this class of 

 researches. 



The following resolution, introduced by Professor Whitney, at a 

 previous meeting, in accordance with the Constitution, was adopted. 



Resolved, That any Corresponding Member who may take up his residence 

 in this city, may become a Resident Member, on notifying the Recording Sec- 

 retary that such is his wish. 



