On Chlorine in Meteoric Iron. 361 



less ^abundantly than in the first experiment, but so decided on 

 the whole, as to leave no doubt of the thorough permeation of 

 the mass by the element in question. 



Aware that this fact by itself could only throw a doubt upon 

 the foreign origin of chlorine in meteorites, since the kentledge 

 mass had been in a situation quite different from that in which 

 meteoric irons have been found, 1 was happy in having it in my 

 power also to examine what I suppose to be an artificial carburet 

 of iron, and which came into my hands during the winter in the 

 following way. 



Dr. A. G. Mathieson, of Charleston (then a student of medi- 

 cine in the College), handed me a small, tabular fragment of sup- 

 posed iron-ore, found in the edge of the middle country of the 

 state of South Carolina.* It was taken from a depth of several 

 feet from the surface of the ground, on a sandy hill-side, where 

 other specimens were believed to exist. It was sent to me by 

 the proprietor of the land, under the impression that it denoted 

 the existence of an iron-ftiine. It appeared to me from its uni- 

 form thickness, foliated-granular texture, as well as color and. 

 hardness, to be a fragment of some cast-iron utensil. 



The superficial area of the mass was about two inches. Its 

 thickness was one third of an inch. It presented fresh fractures 

 on all the sides, as if it had recently been broken from a larger 

 mass. The upper and under sides were invested with a blebby, 

 ochraceous covering of nearly one line in thickness. A fresh 

 portion, detached, and cleared of the scaly ochre, gave a specific 

 gravity = 7.308. It was found on analysis to be a carburet of 

 iron. Its hardness was sufficient to scratch glass. It was report- 

 ed upon accordingly, as being most probably a mass of cast-iron, 

 which had accidentally been buried in the soil. 



Having detected chlorine in the New Haven cast-iron, it oc- 

 curred to me to subject the fragment just described to a similar 

 examination. It was therefore treated with warm water and ni- 

 trate of silver, when a copious precipitate of chloride of silver 

 made its appearance. I was now led to suppose that any piece 

 of iron which undergoes rusting in the soil, would afford chlorine. 

 A piece of sheet-iron, nearly consumed by rust, was found buried 



* The precise locality I do not now remember, but it was at least seventy miles 

 from the coast. 



Vol. XLiii, No. 2.— July-Sept. 1842. 46 



