118 Dr. Walter Flight — History of Meteorites. 



east side of this ridge, and in the solid rock, a piece of much-weathered 

 iron was found inclosed by Nauckhoff; while another member of the 

 expedition, Mr. J. Steenstrup, detected metallic iron on the west side 

 of the ridge. The analysis of this iron, apparently that which was 

 analysed by Lindstrom, will be referred to later on. While blasting 

 this basalt, a rock was hit upon which was at once seen to differ con- 

 siderably from the matrix. It consists of a greenish ground mass, 

 inclosing spangles and grains of iron, and occurs in rounded masses 

 that are separated from the basalt by a coarsely crystalline greenish 

 shell, about 20 mm. thick as well as by an outer rusted brown 

 crust. The boundaries of these masses were well defined ; in no 

 instance were they detected passing over into the basalt. 



The masses of iron lying in the basalt ridge usually had an ellip- 

 soid form and a rusted crust, that allowed of their being easily 

 detached from the basalt. Nauckhoff succeeded in removing six 

 lumps, the aggregate weight whereof was 150 lbs. This iron is 

 hard and crystalline, exhibits Wiedmannstattian figures, and is in 

 every respect like that of the large loose blocks. Moreover, like 

 them, it unfortunately possesses the property of exuding a yellow 

 liquid (ferrous chloride), and of weathering away. It was noticed 

 that these inclosed masses had their major axes parallel to the direc- 

 tion of the ridge, and that they were in a way connected with each 

 other by little veins of weathered iron. 



Nordenskjold states that the large free blocks of metal had a tombac 

 to rusty-brown colour, and, when found, exhibited metallic lustre 

 on parts of their surface. Here and there, fragments of basalt, similar 

 to that of the ridge, were found adhering to them. The inner parts 

 contained none of the rock, and his analyses detected the presence of 

 little silicic acid. They were strongly polar, the upper surface attract- 

 ing the north, the lower side the south pole of the magnetic needle. 



The iron of the large masses is crystalline and brittle, so that 

 pieces can readily be removed with a hammer ; the metal of the 

 ridge is tougher, and has a rougher fracture. The presence of 

 troilite was rarely detected in the detritus ; a few black magnetic 

 grains were met with which, by their octahedral faces, were recog- 

 nized to be magnetite. 



The characters of the polished sections of the different masses 

 differ greatly : in some the surface shows rounded areas of varying 

 brightness and shades of colour, with parts of a brassy yellow 

 (troilite) ; others are more homogeneous, or appear to be made up 

 of fine prisms of " carburetted nickel-iron." Some, not all, exhibit 

 figures when etched. 



Though containing little sulphur, the Greenland irons, since they 

 have been brought to Europe, have shown a marked tendency to 

 crumble to pieces. On the shore at Ovifak, sometimes exposed to the 

 wash of the waves, sometimes left high and dry, but preserved 

 at the constant temperature of the sea, which varies little throughout 

 the year, the masses apparently underwent little change. Already 

 during the passage, however, many fragments crumbled away, and 

 when unpacked at Stockholm two months later, and placed in 

 a room of ordinary temperature, others broke up into a reddish 



