MERRILL] METEOR CRATER OF CANYON DIABLO, ARIZONA 481 



gest that if due to impact of a bolide, the same came from a direction 

 a little north of west, though at a very high angle, perhaps not less 

 than 70 . Proof of this lies in the greater amount of shattering 

 and upturning shown by the beds in the eastern wall of the crater 

 (see typical east and west section, station 18), and in the greater 

 distance to which debris has been thrown to the east as compared 

 with that in any other direction. 



These irons it should be stated, have all been found near, and 

 in many cases actually on, the surface. At most they have been 

 buried scarcely enough to cover, and in the case of most of those 

 found have been in part uncovered by wind or water erosion. It is 

 the writer's opinion, based upon an examination on the ground, 

 that a very large proportion of them were buried to a slight depth, 

 and are being gradually brought to the surface through the action 

 of the wind blowing away the finer and lighter material from around 

 them, or, on the slopes of the crater in particular, by the rush of 

 water from the spasmodic rains. As found, but a small portion of 

 an iron projects above the surface, and, being of a rusty brown gray 

 color, is easily passed over by any one not experienced in hunting 

 them. When embedded they are covered with but a slight coating 

 of oxide, though usually more or less incrusted, particularly on the 

 lower sides and edges, with carbonate of lime. A cut section of 

 what may be called the typical iron is shown in plate lxxiv. It 

 is characterized, as long since noted by Brezina, 1 by a coarsely 

 lamellar structure composed of broad plates of kamacite with very 

 little taenite and occasional nodules or troilite. 



Chemical and Mineralogical Properties. — The chemical, phvsical, 

 and mineralogical properties of the iron have been discussed by sev- 

 eral workers, the chief interest naturally centering around the oc- 

 currence of the diamond. Foote in his paper announced that the 

 iron contained (i) small diamonds, '..oth black and white; (2) carbon 

 in the form of pulverulent iron carbide, the precise nature of which 

 was not made out; (3) sulphur; (4) phosphorus; (5) nickel; (6) 

 cobalt, and (7) silicon. Huntington, the year following, described 

 somewhat briefly, and in 1894 2 more in detail, the methods and re- 



been found in a canyon at Peach Springs. This statement I have not been 

 able to substantiate, not being able to get into communication with the parties 

 mentioned. Peach Springs is at least 100 miles west of the crater. Knowing 

 what he does of the conditions existing at the time the iron was purchased, 

 the writer feels justified in believing the source as given to be erroneous, and 

 that the iron actually came from near the crater. 



1 Wien Sammlung, 1895, p. 288. 



2 Proc. American Acad. Boston, vol. 29, 1894, p. 209. 



