of a ftek American Meteorite. 1 9 



acid in excess, from which carbonate of ammonia threw down 

 a flaky precipitate, and was added until the alkaline taste 

 predominated. The precipitate thus obtained, after ignition 

 weighed 4*7 grains. To satisfy myself of the nature of this 

 substance, it was treated with sulphuric acid and potash; cry- 

 stals of alum were obtained, and it was therefore alumina. 



(5). The residuum which had resisted the action of the 

 potash was digested in diluted sulphuric acid; after expelling 

 the excess of acid, pure water was poured upon the remaining 

 solid, in order to dissolve any sulphate of magnesia and me- 

 tallic sulphates. 



To discover if any lime was present in the solution, it was 

 treated with alcohol, which afforded a slight trace of that earth. 



(6.) The solution, after the addition of more water, was 

 acidulated with sulphuric acid, and the metallic oxides were 

 precipitated by the bicarbonate of potash. The magnesia was 

 separated by pure potash, and after ignition weighed 24*8 

 grains. 



(7.) The precipitate (6) was boiled in nitric acid, in order 

 to convert any chrome present in it into an acid, which was 

 afterwards by the addition of potash converted into a soluble 

 chromate. On adding muriatic acid, the chrome was obtained 

 in the state of an oxide, sufficiently characterized by its beau- 

 tiful colour. After being well dried it weighed 4 grains. 



A portion of this substance was subsequently exposed on 

 charcoal with borax to the action of the blow-pipe, and its 

 nature satisfactorily proved. 



(8.) The matter remaining after the separation of the 

 chrome was redissolved in muriatic acid, and the iron was 

 thrown down by ammonia. After washing and drying, it 

 weighed 14*9 grains. 



(9.) The remaining solution was now evaporated, the am- 

 monia driven off, and the precipitate, which proved to be 

 nickel, weighed 2-3 grains. 



The composition of this meteoric mass is therefore 



Sulphur 18-3 



Silex 29-5 



Alumina 4*7 



Lime a trace 



Magnesia 24'8 



Chrome 4' 



Iron 14-9 



Nickel 2-3 



98-5 

 Loss 1*5 



Too 7 



C 2 V. A new 



