76 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



The decidedly octahedral form of this iron seems unqestionably 

 due to its separation along natural cleavage planes from a much larger 

 mass. But it is surprising that the form should not have been much 

 more distorted, by the erosion due to friction in passing through the 

 atmosphere. 



The whole iron is more or less mottled, ranging in color from a 

 reddish brown to a brownish black, and is entirely covered with 

 pittings on all sides. Those on what may properly be termed the 

 upper side (figure i, plate VI.) being much more distinct, owing to 

 their size and depth, than elsewhere. Just below the medium ridge 

 on one end there is an unusually large pitting, some lo c. m. long 

 and 2 c. m. deep. Two or three small but much deeper finger-like 

 pittings, from which troilite has undoubtedly been weathered out, are 

 on the mass. 



Two small corners of the mass have been broken of? and have the 

 appearance of very old breaks, as the surfaces are entirely oxidized. 

 These surfaces show markedly distinct octahedral cleavage. 



Two small protuberences, one 2 c. m. and the other i c. m. in 

 diameter, have been sawn off and the faces polished and etched. One 

 of these is shown in figure i, the other in figure 2, plate VI. Other- 

 wise the mass was an entirely complete one, until sawed into sections 

 by Ward's Natural Science Establishment; the probability being that 

 not more than thirty grammes had been taken from it since it 

 reached terra firma. 



Upon slicing the mass but one troilite nodule of any size was 

 found. This occurred on one end-piece and the adjoining slice, and 

 was 14 mm. in diameter with two small patches of nickeliferous iron 

 in its center. 



The slices show more or less fractures extending across their 

 surfaces along the natural cleavage faces, the edges of the kamacite 

 plates, and in some instances (as in the San Angelo meteorite*) the 

 rhombic form produced by the Widmanstatten figures are strongly 

 outlined by these fissures. 



Upon etching the iron the Widmanstatten figures are readily 

 brought out by acids. These are particularly sharp and clear and of 

 large size, as shown in figure 3, plate VI. 



The kamacite plates average from i to 1.5 mm. in diameter, with 

 an occasional one of 2 mm. They are unusual, from the fact that 

 they extend in an unbroken line in many instances from 90 to 120 



*Am. Jour. Sci. Ser. 3, Vol. 5, pp. 269-272. 



