522 



FOOTE— FACTORS IN THE 



[April 23, 



increase in weight means a reduction to one tenth of the per gram 

 price. At rare intervals greater extremes of this price variation are 

 shown by wholly abnormal and unstable quotations. 



In the case of iron localities affording a few hundred to a few 

 thousand kilos, a ratio of price variation of about 8: i will be typical 

 where the weight variation is i : 1,000. This is roughly illustrated 

 in tlie table below by the recently found Amalia, a fall identical 

 with the original ]\Iukerop. 



Ordinary Prices. 



Highest. 



33 Per Cent. Decrease. 



Exceptional Prices. 



50 Per Cent. Further 

 Decrease. 



60 Per Cent. Final 

 Decrease. 



Very thin slices of 

 about 30 grams 

 (0.03 kilo) 



6 cents per gram 

 ($60.00 per kilo). 

 Price, Si. 80 



Thin slices of about 

 300 grams (0.3 

 kilo) 



Thick slices of about 

 3000 grams (3 

 kilos) 



4 cents per gram 2 cents per gram 

 ($40.00 per kilo). ($20.00 per kilo). 

 Price, $12.00 IPrice, $60.00 



Very thick slices or 

 end-pieces of about 

 30,000 grams (30 

 kilos) 



0.8 cent per gram 



($8.00 per kilo). 

 Price, $240.00 



One universal tendency is for the price variation to lessen 

 directly with the decrease in total weight, so that in meteorites 

 totaling less than 1,000 grams, the price variation may not exceed 

 3:2 in a weight variation of i : 10. There are two elements in 

 price variations between 30 and 30,000 grams. The first element is 

 difference in weight and the second is difference in thickness. Tf we 

 eliminate the latter, there is less price variation. Thus an iron slice 

 of 3,000 grams, measuring 20 X 20 X i cm. thick, is worth nearly 

 as much per gram as a 30-gram piece measuring 2X2X1 cm. 

 This is partly because the relative cost of sawing a large slice is 

 more than for a small one. Stony meteorites have a smaller ratio 

 of price variation, generally ranging below 4: i, in a weight varia- 

 tion of 1 : 1,000, because the costs of sawing are less than for irons. 

 Further, single stones of over 20 kilos are somewhat rare and are in 

 demand as complete individuals. It may be further noted that 

 collectors differ as to whether aerolites are better sawed or broken. 

 The latter method of division avoids waste of material and labor 

 costs, and affords a broader fractured surface ; at the same time it 

 does not prevent polishing a small face if desired. In falls dis- 



