THE FRANCEVILLE (EL PASO COUNTY, COLORADO) 



METEORITE. 



This meteorite was bought by Professor F. W. Cragin, of 

 Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colo., from Mr. David 

 Anderson and wife of Colorado Springs. It was found by Mr- 

 Anderson, as nearly as he can remember, in 1890, about one and 

 one-half miles southwest of the home ranch of Skinner and Ash- 

 ley, which is east of Franceville. According to Mr. Anderson, 

 it was totally above ground, and there were no signs of any other 

 meteorites. 



From the time it was found until purchased by Professor 

 Cragin it had been kept in the home of Mrs. Anderson in Col- 

 orado Springs, half-forgotten. It was purchased from Professor 

 Cragin by Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Rochester, 

 New York, in August, 1902. From its external form it is one of 

 the most interesting of the many meteorites that have been in 

 the possession of that firm. 



It is a decidedly flattened rhombic pyramid with a somewhat 

 sharp ridge extending around the center of the mass on the four 

 rhombic sides. The dimensions of the mass in these directions 

 are 21 X 23 cm with a thickness of 1 1.5 cm . On one side of this 

 central axis the pyramid projects 6 cm ; on the opposite side, 

 5.5 cm , as seen in Fig. 2. 



The decidedly octahedral form of this iron seems unques- 

 tionably due to its separation along natural cleavage planes from 

 a much larger mass; but it is surprising that the form should 

 not have been much more distorted by the erosion due to fric- 

 tion in passing through the atmosphere. 



The whole iron is more or less mottled, ranging in color 

 from a reddish-brown to a brownish-black. It is entirely covered 

 with pittings on all sides. Those on what may properly be 

 termed the upper side (Fig. 1) are much more distinct, owing 

 to their size and depth, than elsewhere. Just below the medium 

 ridge on one end there is an unusually large pitting, some 10 cm 



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