November 24, 1892] 



NATURE 



9' 



having a diameter of about i^ inches and 4 inches deep ; another 

 at the opposite bottom corner 2 inches deep and 2 inches in 

 diameter; also another of 3 inches deep, and several others. 

 On the upper edge especially, and at several other parts near, 

 also on the edges, are fractured surfaces, as if in its fall a mass 

 or masses were broken oft", leaving a coarse crystalline structure, 

 and which would indicate that several other large holes having 

 existed before its fall on the earth, probably all or most of the 

 pieces were connected together, and might have fallen in one 

 mass. It would be interesting to know if any of the pieces 

 fitted together at the fractured surfaces as seems to me mis^ht be 



detach a fragment of which the cut face was not 2\ inches 

 square. 



Mr. Fletcher also states that on treating a specimen of 

 this Youndegin iron to the action of bromine water, or of 

 dilute nitric acid, the polished section gave no definite 

 figures, but assumed a damascened appearance very like the 

 Tucuman iron and of that of Brazos, being very similar to 

 the latter in the proportion and distribution of the Schrei- 

 bersite ; some specimens of the Arva, the Sarepta, and the 

 recently found Canon Diablo are similar as exhibiting these 

 characters. 



One-fifih natr.ial bize. 



possible. I observe that the two specimens of this iron in the 

 British Museum collection exhibit similar fractures on the edges. 

 Before receiving this specimen I was informed that two masses 

 were found, but have no information at present as to the size 

 and weight of the other. 



Mr. Fletcher in his paper minutely describes the size and 

 form of the two British Museum specimens, and that the specific 

 quantity was determined from three small pieces from the larger 

 specimen, and gave 7-86, 7*85, and 772. He also states that a 

 portion was cut off the larger piece by means of hack-saws, and 

 was found to be so hard that three weeks were required to 



NO. 1204, VOL. 47] 



The Youndegin iron was also remarkable in containing the 

 minute cubic and modified cubic crystals, having metallic lustre 

 and of a greyish black colour, and which were determined to be 

 graphitic in character, but of a diamond-like form ; but were 

 later found to be still distinct from the diamond, but having 

 somewhat more the features of graphite. Mr. Fletcher there- 

 fore decided to give the name of Cliftonite to this substance, as 

 being a new form of a carbon mineral. A most exhaustive de- 

 scription of this new mineral is given in his paper. Siirilar 

 crystals of this substance are found in one or two other meteoric 

 irons. 



