256 A. W. Wright— Oases contained in Meteorites. 



some instances this was not practicable from deficiency of 

 material, and chips produced by a planing machine were used. 

 The stony meteorites were reduced to powder in a diamond 

 mortar. The iron contained in them being for the most part 

 in very minute particles no further operation was necessary in 

 this case. The powder from the irons, when the tube con- 

 taining it was deprived of air, gave off" a small quantity of gas 

 from the mere diminution of pressure, without the application 

 of heat, in one instance enough having been evolved to allow 

 of its collection in a tube. A qualitative examination of it 

 showed that hydrogen and the oxides of carbon were present, 

 leaving no doubt that the mere pulverization of the 



it to part with a portion of its gase< 

 tents at ordinary temperatures, and greatly to facilitate the 

 process at higher temperatures. 



The heat was applied by means of a Bunsen burner, carried 

 slowly back and forth beneath the tube, which was wrapped 

 with wire gauze. For the irons the temperature was carried, 

 in the first instance, to a point below redness, in order that the 

 action of the iron upon the gases should be as little as possible. 

 It was about 500° C. The gauge was watched during the heat- 

 ing and, as soon as it ceased to rise perceptibly, the flame was 

 slowly withdrawn, and the gas at once pumped out. The evo- 

 lution of gas, at this temperature, generally ceased very neariy 

 in twenty or thirty minutes. After the gas was thoroughly 

 removed, the iron was heated to redness with a cluster of four 

 Bunsen burners, the heat being continued as long as any con- 

 siderable amount of gas appeared to come away. This required 

 usually but thirty or forty minutes, though in one or two 

 instances it was continued somewhat longer. It will be seen from 

 the results given below that the larger portion of the gas was 

 obtained at the lowest temperature, in every instance but one. 



The iron meteorites examined were the following: First, 

 that from Tazewell Co., Tennessee, described by Professor J. 

 L. Smith, in this Journal, II, xix, 153. Its com'position is Fe, 

 83-02; Ni, 14-62; other substances, 1-93. No carbon was 

 found. Specific gravity 7*9. 



Second, that of Shii ' " 



described by Professor ^. ^^^x.ixx^Li, ux^.^ ^- , . / 



contains Fe, 81-48; Ni, 17-17; C, 0-07, other substances, 1-27. 

 Sp. gr. 7-875. . 



Third, the meteorite of Arva, in Hungary, noticed m this 

 Journal, II, viii, 439. The analysis of A. Lowe gives Fe, 

 90-471; Ni, 7-321 ; residuum of carbon, silica, and cobalt, 1-404. 

 Sp. gr. 7-814. Another analysis by Bergemann, Pogg. .^"°-' 

 c. 256, gives for its composition, exclusive of the sulphide ol 

 iron contained in it, Fe, 82-25; Ni, 8-12; Co, 0-364; P, 0-74; 

 C, 1-54 ; Graphite, 2-00. 



