Keyes—Meteorites on the Painted Desert. 149 
igneous masses appear to be in need of careful revision. 
The meteoritic phase has received as yet insufficient ap- 
plication. That it is far more important than has been 
suspected is clearly shown by recent observations on 
desert ores. That this is the main source of vadose ore 
materials now seems not unlikely. It is probable that 
much of the so-called general metallic content of the sedi- 
mentary rocks is in reality derived immediately from 
meteoritic sources, for its derivation entirely from the 
' country-rock of mining districts especially those far re- 
moved from volcanic activity, has never been a very sat- 
isfactory explanation. 
The supplies of metaliferous materials derived from 
meteoritic sources, inferentially at least, equal if not 
actually greatly exceed in amount those derived from the 
secular decay of rock-masses. It is also a question 
whether of the worked ore-bodies of the world the ma- 
jority of mines are not really operated in the so-called 
_ vadose ores. Casual perusal of the vast descriptive lit- 
erature on the mines of the world appears to give ample 
support to this statement. 
Resumé. 
From the foregoing notes it may be inferred: 
(1) That Coon Butte is most probably of voleanic ori- 
gin; the direct evidences being the numerous similar phe- 
nomena in the vicinity showing undoubted connection 
with the explosive type of vulecanism. 
(2) That the great abundance of meteoritic materials 
in the neighborhood of Coon Butte is due to favorable 
climatic conditions coupled with marked deflative activity 
on a hard rock stratum rather than to extensive comminu- 
tion of a huge meteorite falling at this point. 
(3) That as compared with the conditions afforded 
by moist lands desert regions generally are exceptionally 
favorable for the disclosure of abundant meteoritic ma- 
terial. 
