52 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. vii. 



"Ill 1870 Nordenskiold discovered at Ovifak, in Greeland, tifteen 

 huge masses of native iron, of which one block, calculated to weigh 

 at least 20,000 kilograms, is supposed to be the largest specimen of 

 native iron on record. The whole were found within an area of 50 

 square meters. A basaltic rock, in close proximity to the masses, 

 contained many fragments of metallic iron, and the detached blocks 

 were also partially encrusted with a rock of similar character ; there 

 would appear to be no doubt but that the iron in the two situations 

 was of identical origin. 



" Nordenskiold submitted portions of the iron to analysis, and found 

 it to contain both nickel and cobalt : from this circumstance he con- 

 cluded that it was of extra-terrestrial origin, Wohler, who also 

 examined it, was of the same opinion. It must be admitted, however, 

 that the intimate association of the iron with large eruptive masses 

 in the neighbourhood tends to throw considerable doubt upon the 

 accuracy of these conclusions. Several large specimens of iron from 

 both sources were presented to the author, one of which he has care- 

 fully examined. 



'' This specimen was of a deep grey colour, almost black, resembl- 

 ing magnetite or graphitic cast-iron. It had a distinct cleavage, but 

 tlie faces were not regular, and no distinct crystalline system could 

 be seen. It wag not ductile, but broke under the hammer, giving a 

 dark brown-red powder, which was strongly attracted by the magnet . 

 On a polished surface a want of uniformity in structure was observ- 

 able, the brilliant white crystals of schreibersite and brass-yellow 

 crystals of troilite being distinctly visible. At other places the pre- 

 sence of silicates produced deep green lithoidal patches upon the 

 surface. When treated with cold water the powder yielded a small 

 percentage of suljjhate and chloride of calcium with a trace of ferric 

 chloride ; in this respect the present specimen differs from an ordi- 

 nary meteorite, in which the occurrence of calcium chloride has not 

 been previously observed. 



" The following are the results of a complete analysis : — 



Iron, metallic 40-94 



Iron, combined with O, S, and P 30-15 



Carbon, combined 3-00 



Carbon, free 1 -64 



Nickel 2-65 



Cobalt 0-91 



Oxygen 12-10 



As, S, P, Si, Cu, H2O, &c 8-61 



100-00 



''■ At the author's request Berthelot examined the same sample. 

 He found that on ignition it gave off a certain quantity of carbon 

 monoxide and dioxide, but that no gaseous hydrocarbons were evolved. 

 He also carefully examined it for graphite, but found none," 



