8 Notice of Prof. Clark’s Thesis on Metallic Meteorites. 
riably <span phosphoric acid, formed by the oxydation of the 
phosphurets. Jt seems indeed, as if phosphorus were as charac- 
teristic an iietaien of meteoric masses as nickel; and it isa 
singular fact, as Wohler has remarked, that there are no mineral 
phosphurets of terrestrial origin. The meteoric phosphurets are 
nearly insoluble in hydrochloric acid; and constitute from 0°5 to 
‘5 p.c. of most metallic masses. They. form either a black, 
flocky residue (dyslytite of Shepard); thin, elastic, bronze-yellow 
plates (schreibersite of Patera); or brilliant four-sided prismatic 
ph amen They consist of iron, nickel and phosphorus, with 
perhaps, occasionally, carbon and magnesium. 
Prof. Clark observes that he aims to give in his thesis a concise 
yet complete history of the characteristics and literature of every 
metallic mass of undoubted meteoric origin, observiug that his 
best thanks are due to his highly honored instructor, Prof. Woh- 
ler, for his kindness in furnishing him with specimens for analy- 
sis, and in allowing him free access to his library and cabinet. 
The classification adopted is to describe first, those containing 
chrysolite, secondly, such as inclose large quantities of pyrites, 
thirdly, those rich i in nickel, and finally, such as are composed of 
nearly pure iron. 
rasnojarsk. According to Bignlety the chrysolite “2 this 
and of all Atacama iron contains arsen . Atacama, 
chrysolite forms, in bulk, about half the mass. Acids Ao 3 
attack that part of the metal next to the chrysolite, which con- 
sequently retains its lustre, while the central portions of the an- 
gular masses, when acted on by acids, become dull gray, the 
whole presenting to view dark areas surrounded by a bright bor- 
der, which separates them from the chrysolite. These dark 
areas are often intersected by brilliant lines. —3. Potosi, cade. 
S.A. Partsch believes it to be from Atacama. According to 
Morren the metallic part consists of iron 90241 and nickel 9: 759. 
The mass is now in the museum at Angers, France.—4. Stein- 
bach, Saxony. The mass was found preserved in the cabinet of 
von Schénberg of Gotha, with this label, “a curious piece of na- 
tive iron so discovered in the field.” The color of the metal in- 
clines more to gray than that of the masses of Atacama and Si- 
beria. The olivenoid mineral is brownish green, granular, some- 
what cleavable, and according to Stromeyer isa tersilicate of 
magnesia, while the chrysolite of other meteorites is a simple sil- 
icate.—5. Fort Singhur, near Pouna in the Deccan, India. 
Described by Giraud in 1849. This mass had the form of an 
irregular 3-sided prism with conical terminations, and weighed 
314 Ibs. It was found upon a basaltic mountain 4500 feet above 
_ the sea. It is exceedingly vesicular, the cavities being filled with 
an olivenoid substance of a yellowish white color, in opaque, 
earthy massess of the size of a pea. The metallic portion con- 
tains several per cent. of nickel. Sp. gr. =4-72—4-90, Giraud. 
