‘ J. Lawrence Smith on Meteorites. 325 
The inference to be drawn from the last character is very evi- 
dent, it is highly significative of the igneous origin of these bod- 
ies, and of an igneous action similar to that now existing in our 
volcanoes. 
Yet another point of resemblance to certain of our terrestrial 
igneous rocks is the presence of metallic iron, for lately Mr. An- 
rews has proved the existence of metallic iron in basaltic rocks, 
but this will not be insisted on, as the quantity of iron discovered 
in basaltic rocks is so minute as only to be detected by the most 
delicate means of investigation. : 
Ever since the labors of Howard in 1802, the chemical consti- 
tution of meteorites have attracted much attention, more espe- 
cially the elements associated in the metallic portion, and although 
we find no new elements, still their association, so far as yet 
hickel. With our more recent method of separating cobalt from 
nickel, very accurate and precise results can be obtained as relates 
to the cobalt; the copper exists always in so minute propor- 
ion that the most careful manipulation is required to separate it. 
_ Another element frequently, but not always, mentioned as asso- 
ciated with the iron, is phosphorus. Here again my testing of 
thirty specimens lead me to a similar generalization concerning 
Phosphorus, namely, that no meteoric iron is to be expected with- 
out it; my examination has extended as well to the metallic par- 
ticles separated from the stony meteorites as to the meteoric irons 
Proper. It may be even further stated that, in most instances, the 
Phosphorus was traceable directly to the mineral Schreibersite. 
These four elements then, Iron, Nickel, Cobalt and Phospho- 
tus, I consider remarkably constant ingredients. First in the me- 
teoric irons proper, and secondly in the metallic particles of the 
Stony meteorites ; there being only some three or four meteorites 
cee hundreds that are known, in which they are not recog- 
_ As regards the combination of these elements, it is worthy of 
Temark that no one of them is associated with oxygen, although 
all four of them have strong affinity for this element, and are never 
found (except copper) in the earth uncombined with it, exreps 
Where some similar element (as sulphur, &c.) supplies its place. 
_* The traces of iron found in basaltic rock already alluded to, forms too insignifi- - 
“ant an exception to be insisted on —v. L 8. ~* 
