56 Meteoric Iron. 



afford other qualitative results ; these, however, pointed to its close 

 resemblance to the Dharwar stone, for with the earthy silicates it 

 contained sulphur, iron, and nickel. 



Meteoric iron from Singhur, near Poona in the Deccan. — Tlie 

 iiill fort of binghur has, of late years, during the hot season, become 

 a favourite resort of European officers, stationed at Kirkee and Poona, 

 from which latter place it is about fourteen miles distant. The fort, 

 situated upon a basaltic hill, is at an elevation of about 2000 feet 

 above the surrounding plain, and 4500 above the level of the sea. 



In November 1847, as some workmen were improving tht- ascent 

 to the fort, they stumbled upon a mass of what they supposed to be 

 iron ore, lying upon the surface of the ground; but from its being 

 so totally unlike any rock in the neighbourhood, they took it as a 

 curiosity to the Rev. Mr Reynolds, the chaplain of Kirkee, who was 

 at the time residing at Singhur. Mr Reynolds, struck with its singu- 

 lar locality and appearance, transmitted it to Dr Buist, the secretary 

 to the Bombay Geographical Society, from whom I received it for 

 examination. 



The mass is or an irregular three- sided prismatic form, tapei'ing 

 and conical at the ends. It is 12j inches long; and at its broadest 

 parts the sides are from 5 to 5y inches across. It weighs 31 lb. 

 4 oz. The specific gravity of the several pieces that have been de- 

 tached from the mass, varies from 4720 to 4900. The whole sur- 

 face is of ferruginous colour, with here and there bright metallic- 

 looking portions, of the colour and appearance of malleable iron. One 

 of its sides is highly vesicular, as if gases had been extricated from 

 it, whilst solidifying from a state of fusion ; another of its sides is 

 less vesicular than this ; and the third is flattened and metallic-look- 

 ing, as if it had been beaten with a sledge-hammer, or had fallen 

 while soft upon a hard surface. On boring into the mass for the 

 purpose of obtaining portions for analysis, it was found to have large 

 irregular vesicular-surfaced cavities in its interior, and the walls of 

 these, as well as the borings (which were powdery), were of a deep- 

 slate colour, or almost black. 



On having a portion of one of its extremities cut off, small, yel- 

 lowish-white, earthy-looking bodies, about the size of peas, were ob- 

 served sparingly scattered through and embedded in the iron. The 

 mass is so exceedingly tough, that portions could not be detached 

 from it by the hammer, and it was found neces.^ary to heat it before 

 a piece could be cut from it. It is malleable, powerfully attracts the 

 magnet, but has no magnetic poles, as some masses of meteoric iron 

 have been found to possess. The analysis of the borings, taken from 

 a depth of three inches, gave, of — 



Earthy silicates, .... 19"5 



Iron, 69-16 



Nickel 4-24 



92-93 



