satisfied „_ . 



86 Report on Meteorites. 



Dr. James R. Chilton, 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- 

 scribed as having been picked up by them in the soil. They 

 were of opinion, that it was some valuable metal ; and were only 



by being shown by Dr. C, that # it ad- 

 hered strongly to the magnet. Dr. C. was at once led to suspect 

 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. lo- 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 



\ 5. Its structure within, is 

 foliated, or foliated-columnar, the individuals radiating from the 

 centre to the circumference. Its color when first broken, was a 

 light 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 is 

 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 trian- 

 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. 



Being anxious to preserve as much as possible of this smallest 

 of all the known meteoric iron-masses, I have contented myself 

 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)andaheavy whitish powder. 



means 



tin. 



This latter, fused with 

 appeared to be metallic 

 ammonia, afforded per- 



i 



