86 Report on Meteorites. 
Dr. James R. Cuixton, practical chemist of New York, for deter- 
mination, stating that they had collected them in that region. 
Among the collection was the iron in question, which they de- 
seribed as having been picked up by them in the soil. They 
were of opinion, that it was some valuable metal ; and were only 
satisfied that it was iron, by being shown by Dr. C., that it ad- 
hered strongly to the magnet. Dr. C. was at once led to suspéct 
that it was a meteoric production, from the peculiarity of its 
shape; and induced the proprietors to exchange it for several 
specimens of silver ores, which they were desirous of procuring, 
to enable them to prosecute their mining researches with more 
intelligence. By paying Dr. C. the value of the specimens he 
had given for it, he very kindly transferred it into my hands. 
Its weight was 276 grs., and its figure almost spherical or drop- 
like, as represented in the margin. It was covered with a black 
Fig.10. coating, save on one side, where it had been partially 
polished. 'The application of a drop of dilute nitric 
acid to this side, brought into view the most beau- 
tiful, raised lines, closely compacted together, and 
crossing each other in every direction. Its hardness 
was too great to allow of its being sawn; it was 
therefore broken upon an anvil (within a closed ring of iron) by 
means of heavy blows with a sledge. Its structure within, 1s 
foliated, or foliated-columnar, the individuals radiating from the 
centre to the circumference. Its color when first broken, was @ 
hight steel-grey, with a faint yellowish or reddish tinge, some- 
what analogous to magnetic iron-pyrites. Interspersed through 
the mass, a close inspection discovers very minute, perfectly 
round globules of magnetic iron-pyrites, the number of which 1s 
much increased by the aid of the microscope. ‘These globules 
are easily detached, and leave behind cavities with smooth, sil- 
very colored walls. A polished surface of its interior, on being 
etched, exhibits a very exquisitely beautiful crystallization, con- 
sisting of innumerable, closely compacted, silvery lines, crossing 
each other in various directions, but rarely forming regular triat- 
gles, as in the malleable irons, (but more resembling the brittle 
irons of North Carolina and Pennsylvania,) more or less spotted : 
with black globules of pyrites. 
ing anxious to preserve as much as possible of this smallest 
of all the known meteoric iron-masses, I have contented mysé f 
with such inferences as a solution of less than twenty grains, eN- 
abled me to make respecting its composition. It dissolves with 
difficulty in nitro-hydrochloric acid, at the same time evolving 
sulphuretted hydrogen, leaving behind minutely divided carbon 
(plumbago) and a heavy whitish powder. This latter, fused with 
carbonate of soda on charcoal, gave what appeared to be metallic 
tin. The clear solution saturated with ammonia, afforded pet- 
