252 



and partly forced out of the mass, allows the same kind of con- 

 tact among the particles, as exists in the iron obtained in purify- 

 ing crude iron. 



Between these forms of iron and natural iron, there exists the 

 same difference as we perceive between hammered copper and 

 native copper. In the natural iron, as in the native copper, the 

 crystals exist without extraneous matter interposed ; precisely as 

 if deposited from solutions by electrolysis ; the masses they form 

 are malleable, but always show flaws at points produced by the 

 presence of earthy minerals, included in a more or less crystal- 

 line form. 



In artificial ductile iron, the crystalline arrangement is broken 

 down purposely, in order to unite the particles anew. Laminated 

 iron, presents them flattened and shingled over each other, their 

 serrated edges becoming felted. Drawn iron, exhibits an internal 

 arrangement of longitudinal threads, formed from particles whose 

 cohesion, laterally, has been diminished. 



The native iron presents only minute crystalline grains, which 

 have not been broken or blended. Their color is lighter gray 

 than that of any hammered iron. They are without much lus- 

 tre, resembling iron which has been aggregated by electrical 

 deposition. The mass is tough ; and when a fragment is broken, 

 repeated bending and doubling is required, and the fracture is 

 hackly. The texture is not uniform. Some parts are less com- 

 pact than other portions, rendering the specific gravity of the 

 mass less than that of other iron. Tliis inequality is due in part 

 to the presence, in the mass, of crystalline quartz, magnetic 

 oxide of iron, and a zeolite mineral, having a soda basis in part; 

 conclusively proving that the iron has never been melted arti- 

 ficially. 



Its chemical composition is, 



Pure iron, 98 40 



Quartz grains, magnetic oxide, iron crystals, 



and zeolite ..... 1.60 



100.00 



There are no other metals present ; a fact which prevents us 

 from placing this iron in the class of meteorolites. And the 



