154 



TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



water, and although not analyzed quantitatively, it left no doubt 

 upon my mind as to its being protochlorid of iron ; and the manner 

 of its occurrence gave strong evidence of its being an original consti- 

 tuent, and not formed since the fall of the mass. Chloride of iron 

 was apparent on various parts of the iron, by its deliquescence on the 

 surface. 



2. The meteoric iron from Campbell county, Tennessee. — This meteor- 

 ite was discovered in July, 1853, in Campbell county, in Stinking 

 creek, which flows down one of the narrow valleys of the Cumberland 

 mountains, by a Mr. Arnold, and was presented to me by Professor 

 Mitchell, of Knoxville. It is of an oval form, 2|- inches long. If 

 broad, and f thick, with an irregular surface and several cavities per- 

 forating the mass. It was covered with a thin coat of oxyd; and on 

 one-half of it chloride of iron was deliquescing from the surface, while 

 on another portion there was a thin silicious coating. The iron was 

 quite tough, highly crystalline, and exhibited small cavities on being 

 broken, resembling very much in this respect, as well as in many other 

 points, the Hommony creek iron ; a polished surface when etched, ex- 

 hibited distinct irregular Widmannstiittian figures. The weight is 4-^ 

 ounces. Specific gravity, Y.05. The lowness of the specific gravity is 

 accounted for by its porous nature. The composition is as follows : 



Iron 97.54 



Nickel 0.25 



Cobalt 0.6 



Copper, too small to be estimated. 



Carbon ,. 1.50 



Phosphorus 0.12 



Silica 1.05 



100.52 



Chlorine exists in some parts in minute proportion. The amount 

 of nickel, it will be seen, is quite small, but its composition is, never- 

 theless, perfectly characteristic of its origin. 



3. The metSoric iron from Coahuila, Mexico (Fig. 2.) — This meteor- 

 ite, now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, was brought 

 to this country by Lieutenant Couch, of the United States army, he 

 having obtained it at Saltillo. It was said to have come from the San- 



