214 C.U. Shepard on Meteoric Iron in South Africa, 
The indentations of the surface are strongly marked. ‘The de- 
pressions are large, and strikingly uniform throughout in their 
dimensions. 
n the top of the mass, as represented in fig. 1, there isa 
broad plate-shaped depression (itself made up of many sinaller 
ones), which is surrounded at its brim with a double series of 
elongated concavities, each one of which points with its longer 
diameter, towards the centre of the general concavity. There 
are no sharp edges or at connected with the block, for 
which reason, it reminds one of a ideo made and highly per- 
fect casting of bronze or of cast-iro 
There is also an almost perfect sais of oxydation over the 
entire bani which in place of the usual coating of hydrated 
iron, exhibits a thin black crust, closely adhering to the 
mass, zai not thicker than wrapping paper. In this respect it 
irises. resembles the Braunau perce iron; and leads to the 
surmise that the mass is of recent ori 
Fig. 2. i the block in an sdashetae position, which 
owing to an anvil-like projection of one of its angles, produces 
some modification in its general appearance. It brings into view 
also, a singular opening (a) perfectly sienlie' in form, and about 
three quarters of an inch in diameter, and the same in depth. 
This opening is slightly concave at bottom, and has at its centre 
a small projecting pimple ; the whole seems to have been wrought 
artificially ; and yet it bears no mark of any tool or instrument, 
y which it could have been don 
It is sawed with less difficulty ihe most meteoric irons, being 
unusually homogeneous in its texture. It is perfectly crystalline 
in structure, throughout; and apparently the crystallization of 
the entire block j is conformable to the planes of asingle individual. 
Cleavages are effected with facility, giving rise to octahedral and 
letentredral fragments. The polished surfaces show no tendency 
to oxydation before or after etching ; and present an uncommonly 
white color. When etched, it reveals a regularity of crystalliza- 
tions wholly unsurpassed ; and most resembles that of the Putnam 
county (Ga.) iron, although the lines and bands of the Orange 
ver iron are much bo lder and more strongly marked, than in 
that from Georgia. 
Specific gravity, as determined upon a single specimen 
weighing sixty grains, is 7:3. But I believe this below the aver- 
age ; and a more satisfactory determination of this property is re 
served to a future occasion. 
Thus far, I have Mesovered no indication of the presence of 
sulphur. No examination was made for tin or copper. In dis- 
sol pe dilute biseoslidareatieite acid, a small residuum was 
h consisted chiefly of nearly ‘round, semitransparent 
a mineral, which I consider identical with chladnite ; 
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