J. L. Smith — Carbon Compounds in Meteorites. 436 



to the Siberian, Cumberland, and Ceylon varieties ; and they 

 show that the graphite under consideration differs from them 

 in being more readily converted into oxide, it requiring only 



^^o-^A-i. f^ -"--third of the time ; and if the operatic" ^ 



|uently rer ' "' " '' ' 



i gradual! 

 thoroughly altered, like £ 

 as not properly graphites. 



In fact, it appears that the meteoric graphites, when tested by 

 this process, occupy a place between graphites proper and ordi- 

 nary carbon, but much nearer to the graphites. 



After completing my examination of the carbon nodules of 

 the irons, my aim was to see what general deductions could 

 be made with reference to the relations this graphitic material 

 bore to the carbon found in the black meteoric stones. The 

 material to operate with is, however, very rare ; but I had in 

 my collection enough for all necessary comparisons, though 

 needing much more in order to obtain the peculiar products in 

 sufficient quantities for chemical analysis. 

 The Alais metem-ite. 



Two grams of this meteorite were pulverized finely and 

 treated with boiling water, which dissolved out a small amount 

 of matter; which substance has been studied by others and 

 it is not my object to recur to here. 



The powder was then dried and treated with pure ether, in 

 the same manner as the graphite from the Sevier iron, and the 

 ether allowed to evaporate slowly at a moderate temperature, 

 when the sides of the vessel became covered with acicular crys- 

 tals, mixed with a few rhomboidal crystals. The residue had 

 a peculiar odor, similar to that of the ether extract from the 

 graphite of the Sevier iron, which odor it nearly lost in the 

 same way, after several days exposure to the air. The form 

 and appearance of the crystals are the same as of those obtained 

 from that graphite ; and a portion of the crystals detached and 

 heated in a small tube gave the same character or reaction. 



These crystals have already been studied by Prof. Roscoe, of 

 Manchester, as carefully as could be done with the minute 

 quantity at his disposal. My examination is perfectly in ac- 

 cordance with his, and there is no doubt that this product and 

 that from the graphite must be of the same natura 



We must not forget to mention that Prof. Wohler was the 

 first to call attention to the hydrocarbon in these black meteor- 

 ites when examining the one which fell at Kaba. 



This meteorite is one of the most interesting of all the 

 known carbonaceous meteorites. And there are one or 



