NOTES ON NICKEL. 79* 



Silica 0.04 



Carbon Tr. 



100.15 



Analysis of Phosphor Nickel Iron : 



Iron 40.68 



Nickel 48.16 



Phosphor 1 1 . 1 6 



100.00 



This analysis is only for one particular Meteorite, the composition 

 varies somewhat in all. One case is known where Nickel predominates,, 

 namely, Meteorite from Oktebbeha, Ni 60% Fe 30%. Each meteor iron 

 has a continuous structure and is a single individual, and is found to con- 

 sist of a kernel of iron poor in Nickel, (Kamacite) ; imbedded in a thin leaf 

 of Iron, richer in Nickel, (Taenite). These lamellae are arranged accord- 

 ing to the surfaces of an octahedron ; and filling up the cavity of the octa- 

 hedron is a third Iron, poor in Nickel. Imbedded promiscuously in the 

 mass are a Mono-Sulphide of Iron and a Phosphor Nickel Iron. 



The chief difference between meteor Iron and artificial Iron is the lack 

 of the continuous structure in the latter, and in fact this is carefully 

 avoided, because artificial Iron as a rule contains no Nickel, but a not 

 inconsiderable amount of Carbon, which in the case of a continuous 

 structure produces a high degree of brittleness, as the Carbon in the form 

 of Graphite collects together in leaves along which the Iron is easily cleav- 

 able. In the case of meteor Iron the continuous structure is due to the 

 scaly structure of layers of Iron containing greater or less amounts of 

 Nickel, whereby the Iron gains an enormous amount of toughness. If it 

 were possible to imitate this structure and produce a Nickel Iron of this 

 scaly form, it would be a great stride in the manufacture of Iron. 



Schreibersite or Phosphor Nickel Iron has also been found imbedded in 

 the basalt of Greenland. 



Of the other Nickel Minerals, Nickeline, Chloanthite, Smaltine contain- 

 ing Nickel, and Millerite are of importance. It is remarkable that the two 

 ores from which by far the greater part of the Nickel supply of the world 

 is obtained are not Nickel Minerals at all, the Nickel is only present as an 

 accident. Thus Garnierite is a Magnesia Silicate containing water and 

 impregnated with varying amounts of Nickel Oxide, sometimes to 45/{>- 

 and forms a vein in olivine bearing basalt. And the Pyrrhotite, which 

 we are so familiar with and which is a Sulphide of Iron, in whicli. 



