* 
On Chlorine in Meteoric Iron. 361 
less abundantly than in the first experiment, but so decided on 
____ the whole, as to leave no doubt of the thorough permeation of 
| the mass by the element in question. 
Aware that this fact by itself could only throw a doubt upon 
the foreign origin of chlorine in meteorites, since the kentledge 
mass had been in a situation quite different from that in which 
meteoric irons have been found, 1 was happy in having it in my 
power also to examine what I suppose to be an artificial carburet 
of iron, and which came into my hands during the winter in the 
following way. 
Dr. A. C. Maruiesoy, of Charleston (then a student of medi- 
cine in the College), handed me asmall, tabular fragment of sup- 
posed iron-ore, found in the edge of the middle country of the 
state of South Carolina.* It was taken from a depth of several 
feet from the surface of the ground, on a sandy hill-side, where 
other specimens were believed to exist. It was sent to me by 
the proprietor of the land, under the impression that it denoted 
the existence of an iron-mine. It appeared to me from its uni- 
form thickness, foliated-granular texture, as well as color and 
hardness, to be a fragment of some cast-iron utensil. 
The superficial area of the mass was about two inches. Its 
thickness was one third of an inch. It presented fresh fractures 
on all the sides, as if it had recently been broken from a larger 
mass. ‘The upper and under sides were invested with a blebby, 
ochraceous covering of nearly one line in thickness. A fresh 
portion, detached, and cleared of the scaly ochre, gave a specific 
gravity =7.308. It was found on analysis to be a carburet of 
iron. Its hardness was sufficient to scratch glass. It was report- 
_ @d upon accordingly, as being most probably a mass of cast-iron, 
__ Which had accidentally been buried in the soil. 
Having detected chlorine in the New Haven cast-iron, it oc- 
~ Curred to me to subject the fragment just described to a similar 
examination. It was therefore treated with warm water and ni- 
trate of silver, when a copious precipitate of chloride of silver 
Made its appearance. I was now led to suppose that any piece 
of iron which undergoes rusting in the soil, would afford chlorine. 
: A piece of sheet-iron, nearly consumed by rust, was found buried 
f 
; 
 * The precise locality I do not now remember, but it was at least seventy miles 
Vol. xxis1, No. 2.—July-Sept. 1842. 46 
