Prof. Silliman’s Description of the Maryland Aérolite. 107 
potash, yielded an olive-green precipitate, which, ignited, 
weighed 1-70 gr. and had a light-brown colour. 
a. Nitric acid added to this precipitate, did not dissolve the 
whole of it. Muriatic acid was added without effecting a com- 
plete solution. The mixture was heated and evaporated nearly 
to dryness. On standing till the next day it formed a gela- 
tinous mass of a green colour. Water was then added, and 
the insoluble portion separated by the filter. It weighed 5 
grains, and had a gray colour. 
b. Ammonia was added to the nitro-muriatic solution (@) in 
excess, which re-produced the blueish green tinge. By eva- 
poration to dryness, and exposure to a red heat for some time, 
the ammoniacal salts were volatilized, and a yellowish brown 
oxide left. 
c. Before the blowpipe, with borax and phosphoric salt, 
beads were produced of a brown colour, and opaque when the 
oxide was in considerable proportion to the salt; but when di- 
luted with more salt, blood-red globules formed, which changed 
on cooling, to hyacinth-red, and when entirely cold had a fine 
yellow, with, in some instances, a slightly reddish east. The | 
undissolved portion produced the same appearances nearly, 
but less distinctly. Regarding, therefore, the precipitate 1°70, 
in Process 3, as oxide of nickel contaminated with siliceous 
earth, perhaps 1°25 may be put down for oxide of nickel. We 
shall then have, as the result of analysis of the magnetic aéro- 
lite, Oxide ofiron . . . . » 24:00 
Oxide ofnickel . . . . 1°25 
Silica with other earthy matter, 3°46 
Sulphur a trace. — 
28°71 
The presence of sulphur was indicated by the odour of sul- 
phuretted hydrogen, on the first addition of the acid. 
Additional Notice of the Physical Characters of the Maryland 
Aérolite. By Professor SYLL1MAN. 
As the visits of these extraordinary strangers to our planet 
are frequent, and their origin is not yet satisfactorily explained, 
it is obviously proper to register carefully all the facts respect- 
ing them; that thus we, or those who follow us, may by and 
by be in a condition to reason correctly respecting them. 
We hastened to lay before our readers the account which 
we received of the fall of the Maryland aérolite; but as no 
specimen had then been received, it was not possible to give at 
that time either a description or an analysis. —Mr. Chilton has 
O2 supplied 
