1(3G THE SA.N EMIGDIO METEORITE. 



the peculiar fragmental character of meteoric stones is due to " rapid and 

 arrested crystallization in a molten mass," and further says that so far as 

 examined by him, "they (meteorites) do not appear to be fragmental in 

 t be sense of consolidated cold masses joined together. Similar views are, 

 1 believe, entertained by Dr. Brezina.* Without pursuing the subject 

 further, and not caring to express an opinion on the subject of the forma- 

 tion of meteorites in general, but confining myself to this particular case, 

 1 will say that 1 can not conceive any possible conditions under which 

 the same minerals could separate out from closely adjacent portions 

 of the same magma under such a variety of forms as shown in the 

 figures, however rapid and interrupted the changes in conditions of 

 crystallization. There are no evidences to indicate that after the first 

 period of solidification and crystallization was brought to a close by 

 cooling there was a second rise in temperature sufficient to allow certain 

 of the silicate constituents to take on more perfect forms. On the con- 

 trary, the outlines of the fragments are sharp and angular as those of 

 any breccia. The stone is, I believe, fragmental in the sense of con- 

 solidated cold masses joined together. The apparent fragmental nature 

 is, of course, exaggerated by the weathering it has undergone and the 

 consequent shattering of many of the included crystals. It might, 

 indeed, be possible to explain away a part of the obscurities of the 

 ground mass on this supposition ; but by no possible stretch of the 

 imagination can I conceive that such forms as displayed in Figs. 2, 3, 

 t, C, and 8 can be due to other causes than the breaking up of some 

 pre-existing stone and its subsequent recousolidation. The peculiari- 

 ties of structure adverse to this view may, it seems to me, be accounted 

 for, as Tschermakt has done in the case of the Grosnaja meteorite, by 

 supposing that subsequent to the breaking up of the original olivinfels 

 there was a second rise in temperature, accompanied by reducing gases 

 and vapors sufficient to alter the molecular structure, but not produce 

 fusion. The peculiar habit of the iron iu acting as a cement, whether 

 accounted lor, as Nordenskiold | has done, by supposing that it results 

 from the reduction of an iron-rich silicate or on other grounds, has un- 

 mistakably assumed its present form since the consolidation of the 

 stone. Its injection in strings and globules iuto the mass of certain of 

 the "kugels," or completely enfolding them, is such as might be ex- 

 pected under these conditions. In this connection the suggestion made 

 by Reusch,§ to the effect that the spherical form of the kugels may be 

 due in part to the corrosive action of the molten iron, is worthy of con- 

 sideration. This same writer ascribes the origin of the peculiar fan- 

 shaped fragments of enstatite to the breaking up into cone-shaped 

 masses and subsequent trituration of radiating enstatite spherules. In 



I have noi had access t<> Dr. Breziua's papers. 

 * Op. cit., p. 160. 



Zeit. derDeutsch. Geol. Gesell., Vol. xxxm, 1881, p. 25. 

 v* Op. cit. 



