438 Prof. Berzelius OM Meteoric Stones. 



the fifteenth century, is now preserved at Vienna. M. Ber- 

 zelius states that the iron of Elbogen is composed of, 



Iron 88-231 



Nickel 8-517 



Cobalt -762 



Magnesium '279 



Metallic phosphurets 2-211 



Sulphur and manganese, traces 



100-000 



The nickel contains tin and copper. The insoluble metallic 



phosphurets altogether resemble those of the iron of Pallas and 



Bohumiliz: but it is to those of the latter that they approach the 



closest in the proportion of the principal constituents ; these are 



Iron 68-11 



Nickel and magnesium 17-72 



Phosphorus 1'1--17 



The metallic phosphurets of the Bohumiliz iron are composed 

 of iron 65*977, nickel 15-008, phosphorus 14-023, silica 2-037, 

 and carbon 1 -422. 



These researches show that meteoric stones are the mixed 

 matrices of many minerals in variable proportions. These mi- 

 nerals are as follows : 



1st. Native Iron.- — This sometimes forms the principal mass 

 of the meteoric stone ; but not one of these has fallen, that 

 we know of, since 1802*. Those meteoric stones in which 

 iron is the chief constituent do not fly to pieces in their fall, and 

 consequently the largest meteorites are composed of it : the iron 

 is sometimes in a compact mass, sometimes in rounded por- 

 tions, large or small ; generally it is full of cavities containing a 

 gangue. The iron is mixed with other metals, especially with 

 nickel, of which the quantity does not appear to be constant; 

 it also contains small quantities of cobalt, magnesium, man- 

 ganese, tin, copper, sulphur, carbon, and sometimes a trace of 

 phosphorus. 



2nd. Sulphur et of Iron. — This is not the magnetic pyrites, 

 but probably a sulphuret of iron containing an equivalent of 

 each constituent. This accounts for its feeble magnetic po- 

 larity, as well as the great facility with which acids decompose 

 it, disengaging hydrosulphuric acid gas. It is intimately 

 mixed with the mass of the meteoric stones : it probably con- 

 tributes to their dusky colour, and is not readily attracted by 

 the magnet. 



* [There is an error here, either in the original or in the French trans 

 lation : the last fall of meteoric iron known took place at Agram in the 

 year 1751.— E.W.B,] 



