PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
issued 4% 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
U. S, NATIONAL MUSEUM 
Vol. 92 Washington: 1942 No. 3143 
THE SARDIS (GEORGIA) METEORITE 
By E. P. Henperson and C. Wyre Cooke 
In April 1940 a small, rusted fragment about the size of a half 
dollar was sent to the United States National Museum by Fred M. 
Allen, of the Chamber of Commerce in Waynesboro, Ga. Upon inves- 
tigation it was found to be unusually heavy, and certain other proper- 
ties suggested that it might be a meteorite. A chemical test on 
the specimen disclosed the presence of nickel. Further examination 
showed some of the unoxidized nickel-iron alloy, and these observa- 
tions proved that it was a part of a meteorite. Mr. Allen was promptly 
notified of his find and was urged to furnish additional information, 
as well as a larger and better specimen for examination. He replied 
that the reported mass was believed to weigh several thousand pounds 
but said that he had not himself seen it. 
The following month Mr. Allen submitted the second specimen and 
at this time corrected his former estimate of the size of the mass. 
Estimating the volume of the small specimen and knowing its weight 
he determined the weight per cubic inch of this material. After 
approximating the volume of the large specimen he predicted that 
it should weigh between 1,500 and 1,800 pounds. The meteorite actu- 
ally was found to weigh 1,740 pounds. 
In July, Mr. Allen wrote that his information had been furnished 
by the county sanitarian, W. H. Powell, and suggested that further 
correspondence be addressed to him. Mr. Powell was advised by 
letter of our interest in the specimen. The National Museum is 
greatly indebted to Mr. Allen for submitting the first sample and 
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