THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 153 



Iron 5 atoms 82.59 



Nickel... 1 atom 17.41=100.00 



Schreibersife is found disseminated in small particles througli the 

 mass of the iron, and is made evident by the action of hydrochloric 

 acid ; it is also detected in tlakes of little size, inserted as it were into 

 the iron ; and owing to the fact that in many parts where it occurs^ 

 chloride of iron also exists ; this last has caused the iron to rust in 

 crevices, and on opening these, Schreibersite was detached mechani- 

 cally. This mineral as it exists in the meteorite in question, so closely 

 resembles magnetic pyrites that it can be readily mistaken for this 

 latter substance, and I feel confident in asserting that a great deal of 

 the so-called magnetic pyrites associated with various masses of mete- 

 oric iron, will, upon examination, be found not to contain a trace of 

 sulphur, and will, on the contrary, prove to be Schreibersite that can 

 be easily recognised by its characters. 



Its color is yellow or yellowish white, sometimes with a greenish 

 tinge; lustre metallic; hardness 6 ; specific gravity 7.017. No regu- 

 lar crystalline form w\as detected ; its fracture in one direction is con- 

 choidal. It is attracted very readily by the magnet, even more so 

 than magnetic oxyd of iron ; it acquires polarity and retains it. I 

 have a piece yV of an inch long, j-^ of an inch broad, and ^V of an 

 inch thick, which has retained its polarity over six months ; unfortu- 

 nately the polarity was not tested immediately when it was detached 

 from the iron, and not until it had come in contact with a magnet, so 

 that it cannot be pronounced as originally polar. 



Three specimens of the Schreibersite were examined, and gave re- 

 sults as follows : 



1. 2. 3. 



Iron 57.22 56.04 56.53 



Nickel 25.82 26.43 28.02 



Cobalt 0.32 0.41 0.28 



Copper trace not estimated. 



Phosphorus 13.92 14.86 



Silica 1.62 



Alumina 1.63 



Zinc t7^ace not estimated. 



Chlorine 0.13 



100.66 99.69 



The formula of Schreibersite, I consider to be Ni2FejP. 



Per cent. 



Phosphorus 1 atom 15.47 



Nickel 2 " 29.17 



Iron 4 '^ 55.36 



This mineral, although not usually much dwelt upon when speak- 

 ing of meteorites, is decidedly the most interesting one associated with 

 this class of bodies, even more so than the nickeliferous iron. In 

 breaking open one of the fissures of this Tazewell meteorite, a small 

 amount of a green substance was obtained that was easily soluble in 



