THE FALL OF A METEORITE. 

 By Elihu Thomson. 



Presented January 10, 1912. Received January 30, 1912. 



While on a trip west last spring I took the opportunity of visiting 

 the remarkable formation in Arizona known as Coon Butte, also called 

 " Meteor Crater." This formation has been made the subject of several 

 memoirs which have appeared from time to time during a number of 

 years past. To these papers references may be made for details of ex- 

 ploration and measurements. In view, however, of the marked diverg- 

 ences of opinion concerning origin, it seemed desirable to determine, at 

 least to one's own satisfaction, which of the explanations was in accord- 

 ance with the facts. The spot had been known for many years as the 

 locality for numerous meteorites, unique in containing diamonds ; the 

 so-called Canon Diablo specimens. Canon Diablo is a few miles west 

 of the crater. 



More recently these iron masses have been found to contain notable 

 amounts of platinum and iridium, metals which have in the past few 

 years advanced in price at an extraordinary rate. 



The careful study of the class of bodies which include meteorites 

 can doubtless assist us materially in understanding what goes on in 

 the universe around us. They are messengers with a story. My per- 

 sonal interest was aroused when I was a fortunate witness to the great 

 meteor shower in the early morning of November 14, 1867. This 

 shower which was recurrent in thirty-three years was found to be due 

 to meteoric masses, the path of which was identical with the orbit of 

 Tempels' Comet, which was undergoing disintegration. Owing to 

 some perturbation or displacement of the orbit the visitation failed 

 to reappear in 1900. 



In reaching the Meteor Crater we ride west over the Atchison, To- 

 peka and Santa Fe railroad enjoying the wonderful scenery of the 

 Painted Desert, its coloring and atmosphere. We may comfortably 

 pass the night at Winslow in northern central Arizona. Taking the 

 train next morning toward Sunshine Station, a few miles further 



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