386 Report on Meteorites. 
_ of all the stones for the same length of time, a ratio — 
ting that of one (for irons) to twenty (for stones. ) 
The preponderance of the stony minerals in theteainmndede 
would also appear considerably greater, if we could correctly allow 
for the immense loss of matter which on the explosion of a meteor, 
must often accrue, in the pulverization of a body so weakly cohe- 
rent as is the majority of the stones. The clouds from whence the 
showers of stones have so often been seen to issue, may be compos- 
ed of the fine dust which has resulted from the complete rending 
of such bodies: while numerous accounts are on record, of the 
precipitation for hours together and over wide areas of country, 
of a fine impalpable powder, whose chemical composition has been 
found, in the general, to correspond with that of meteoric stones. 
But after every allowance is made on the above mentioned 
grounds, it will still remain true’ that a prevailing metallic char- 
acter and a high specific gravity, characterize the meteoric min- 
erals when epmnpenng with those of our own planet. . 
Part II. 
Chemistry of Meteor-Masses. 
"The chemical elements thus far known’ to exist in these bodies, 
are here arranged in the supposed order of their prevalence. 
1. Iron. _-» 12. Cobalt. 
2. Nickel. i send _ 13. Carbon. 
3. Magnesium. - | 14.. Phosphorus. 
A, Oxygen. 15. Chlorine. 
5. Silicon 16, Manganese. 
6. Sulphur. Bet Ad oS 
7. Calcium. . - 18. Copper. 
8. Aluminium.. 19. Hydrogen. 
9. Chromium. ? 20. Titanium. 
10. Sodium. Seek Arsenic. 
11. Potassium. 
The above elements are among those most frequently found 
entering into the composition of the crust of our globe, (includ- 
ing also its atmosphere.) .The individual parallelism in the we. 
cases, may easily be seen from an inspection of the following 
table. It would be still more striking, if we knew how to make 
a just allowance for that portion of meteoric matter (the stony) 
mi he ll re. san mad from «the natnre: of Mt 
