METEORITES OF NORTH AMERICA. 411 



solution of nitrate of silver. As the solution proceeded the surface of the iron became coated with a brownish flocculent 

 matter, resembling somewhat the development of carbon on steel by nitric acid. These flocculi at length separated 

 from the iron, collected into light coherent masses, and floated about in the liquid, discharging little bubblesof gas and 

 subsiding finally in masses of much-diminished size to the bottom, where they rested upon the broken crystals of the 

 shining white metallic mineral above referred to. 



As the solution proceeded very slowly it was repeatedly quickened by a gentle heat for half an hour at a time. 

 Three days elapsed, however, before the action of the hydrochloric acid was completed upon 50 grains of the iron. A 

 second fragment of 20 grains was treated in a similar manner and with the same general result. 



Among the insoluble matter from the first fragment were found two very brilliant black octahedral crystals whose 

 weight together was only 0.005 of a grain. They were unmagnetic. Each of them was measured by the reflective 

 goniometer and clearly ascertained to be a regular octahedron. And as chromium was found in the acid solution of the 

 iron it can not perhaps be regarded as an unauthorized assumption to consider these crystals as belonging to the species 

 chromite, the more especially as this mineral has repeatedly been observed in meteorites though never before in well- 

 pronounced crystals. 



The brown powder amounted, when dry, to 0.125 of a grain. It was partially acted upon by aqua regia, but in 

 other respecto appeared identical with that insoluble ingredient in several meteors which I have called dyslytite and 

 which, besides a decided content of silicon, has iron, nickel, phosphorus, chromium, and carbon in some unknown 

 combination. 



The remaining insoluble matter, the white (slightly bronze-colored) crystallized substance, whose weight was 1.05 

 per cent of the iron, is a mineral which I believe to be undescribed, if not wholly new. It may have been seen before, 

 but if so it would appear to have been confounded with the foliated metallic substance which is also insoluble and 

 which has been called schreibersite by Patera, though this designation can not be maintained inasmuch as I had pre- 

 viously called another meteoric mineral by this name. 



I propose the name of Partschite for the substance now under consideration in honor of the eminent Prof. Paul 

 Partsch, of Vienna, whose contributions to astrolithology in the description of the meteoric collection of the Imperial 

 Museum at Vienna have been, so important to the progress of this interesting branch of knowledge. 



Properties of Schreibersite of Patera. Properties of PartschiU. 



H.=6.6 H.=5.6 



Sp. gr.=7.01-7.22 



Magnetic. Magnetic. 



Color bronze-yellow. Color silver-white, or only with a tinge of reddish gray. 



Elastic. Brittle. 



In thin plates. In four-sided oblique prisms, with dihedral summits, 



whose faces correspond to the prismatic edges. 

 Streak dark gray. 



Contains iron, 87.20; nickel, 7.24; phosphorus, 7.26; When powdered, quickly soluble in aqua regia. It 



carbon, 7=98.70. contains iron, nickel, magnesium, and phosphorus. 



The proportions of the different substances forming the Seneca Kiver meteorite, as ascertained in the two analyses, 

 were as follows: 



Nickeliferous iron , 98. 69 



Partschite (with trace of pyrite) , 1.05 



Dyslytite 0. 25 



Chromite... 0.01 



100.00 

 The nickeliferous iron gave: 



Iron 92.40 



Nickel 7.60 



Chromium, magnesium, tin, manganese ?, phosphorus, sulphur traces. 



100.00 

 Brezdna 4 classed the meteorite as a medium octahedrite, and remarked regarding it as follows : 



The Vienna specimen permits the recognition of very few details, as the piece is very much weathered. The bands 

 are 0.8 mm. in breadth. 



Meunier 5 classed it as caillite and remarked: 



This iron gives figures entirely in conformity with the caillite type. The kamacite, tsenite, and plessite are rela- 

 tively normal in structure and medium in amount. There is no pyrrhotine visible. 



Brezina, 6 in 1895, also remarked: 



A cross section through the whole mass of the Vienna specimen showa octahedral fragments weathered out. 

 The meteorite is distributed, Vienna possessing 820 grams, and Clinton 450 grams. 



