C. U. Shepard on New Localities of Meteoric Iron. 325 
Arr. XX XIII.—New Localities of Meteoric Iron; by Cuarues 
U D. 
PHAM SHEpParD, M 
1. Tazewell, Claiborne county, Tennessee. 
For the specimens of the highly interesting mass here described 
I am indebted to Prof. J. B. Mitchell, of the East Tennessee 
University, at Knoxville.* Though but a fragment of three 
téths pounds, (having been detached from a mass originally 
weighing sixty pounds,) it nevertheless has much the appearance 
of an independent meteorite. Its shape is that of an elongated 
three-sided pyramid, whose axis is slightly oblique, and whose 
Upper edges are obscurely truncated, so as to resemble an imper- 
fectly formed six-sided pyramid of corundum. The height of 
the mass is four inches. 'The*base is triangular and nearly smooth, 
presenting however a cleavage surface, partially coated by brown 
oxyd of iron. By this face, it was originally connected with the 
tection in which it took place. At any.rate, its occurrence shows 
that these lumps, though generally composed of very tongh and 
Strongly coherent materials, are nevertheless susceptible of cleav- 
age in certain directions, and that they may occasionally explode 
or subdivide into numerous fragments, without the necessity of 
. any very considerable force. 
€ upper planes of the pyramid are indented, and somewhat 
Undulating, as is usual in meteoric irons; but there is no thick 
The following is an abstract from Prof. Mitchell’s letter in reference to its dis- 
a | 
~ 
a 
covery: “This meteorite was found April, 1853, about ten miles west of Tazewell, 
Claiborne county, Tennessee. It was discovered by a son of iam Rogers, while 
i had been much 
SE 
be ed 
—_ 
soa accou 
With no small difficulty that the finder was induced to part with it, even by my pay- 
38 him w ed to be an equivalent, and then agreeing to give him its weight 
insilver, provided it should prove to be that metal, when ang examin 
My first information of the iron, I am indebted to J. C. Ramsay, 
Who, not limiting his researches to the mere details of his profession, loses no oppor- 
tunity of contributing to several branches of natural history. I retain a fragment of 
abo es which he inati mass 
Sequaintance for examining and reporting upon the same. These three em| 
all the Pieces into which this meteorite has been divided.” 
Secon Seams, Vol. XVII, No. 51.—May, 1854. 42 
