ON A METEORITE FROM THE CASTRAY 

 ^ RIVER. 



By W. F. Petterd. 



There is invariably considerable interest attached to 

 the discovery and identification of meteoric substances. 

 I therefore assume that a few remarks respecting- the 

 recent acquisition of a small but veritable meteroic 

 stone, fully authenticated as having been unearthed in 

 this State, may be of interest. The specimen in question 

 makes the second* which has been discovered in this 

 Island, and brings the total number recorded up to date 

 as having been obtained in Australasia, to about 33 

 examplest. These vary in weight from 3 to 4 tons to 

 that now described, which is the smallest hitherto 

 obtained. It is beyond reasonable doubt that many have 

 been, and are, overlooked, as to the average observer 

 they are remarkably unattractive, and it is usually only 

 when they fall into the hands of the mineralogist that 

 their true nature is revealed. Specimens of over 250 

 independent occurrences in various parts of the world 

 are preserved, often with detailed records {vide Dana's 

 System of Mineralogy, 1898). 



As is well-known to those interested, it has been found 

 convenient to class these objects into three divisions, 

 although they pass more or less gradually into each 

 other, viz. :— 



1. Siderites, or meteoric iron proper (consisting 



chiefly of nickelif'erous iron, and enclosing 

 schreibersite, tx'oilite, graphite, &c.) 



2. Siderolites (consisting chiefly of nickeliferous 



iron and silicates, both in large jjroportion.) 



* The minerals of Tasmania, 1896, p. 53. 

 t Records of Australian Museum, 1897-8-9. 



