474 a U. Shepard— Meteoric Stone of Waconda, Kansas, 



miles from the village of Waconda. Many pieces were then 

 broken from the mass, leaving about one-half, whose present 

 weight is fifty-eight pounds, half of which is still covered by the 

 original crust. The specimens transmitted show a freshness 

 equal to that of any newly fallen stone, although they came 

 from the immediate surface, — a circumstance obviously pointing 

 to the recentness of the fall. I have known instances where 

 stones exposed only a few weeks to the weather have suffered 

 a decided oxidation, whereas no such change seems to have oc- 

 curred in this case. 



Its cohesion is about that of the average among meteoric 

 stones. In this respect, as well as shade of color, it corresponds 

 very nearly to the Searsport (Me.) stone, of May 21, 1871 ; but 

 in structure it differs by being less oolitic. Indeed, it is only 

 obscurely so at all, — the individuals that are distinct being 

 rather granular, often with well-marked angles, t 



vhitish matter 



consist of chladnite with some one or more of the feldspars. 

 The chamasite (nickelic iron) is present in thickly scattered, 

 very minute, rounded, lustrous grains, requiring for the niost 

 part the use of a lens for their discovery; while the troilite 

 (magnetic pyrites) is now and then seen in considerable grains, 

 or ovoidal aggregations of imperfect crystals. The crust is rather 

 thicker than usual, of a dull iron-black color, with a slight 

 tinge of brown, and much crumpled or reticulated. The spe- 

 cific gravity of a fragment weighing 435 grams (of which two- 

 fifths were covered by crust) is 8-810 ; that of a fragment without 

 crust, weighing 3-57 grams, is 3-58. 



By mechanical analysis the stone gave 6M per cent of cha- 

 masite, and 1-34 per cent of troilite. The earthy portion was 

 rather more than one-half decomposed by aqua regia, the solu- 

 ble portion, after the separation of the silica, giving magnesia, 

 and protoxide of iron (with a little lime) in the usual proportions 

 of chrysolite. The matter not attacked by acids probably be- 



X 



) augite, some feldspathic species, and chladn--- 

 3 exists a rumor that a second stone has been found, 

 twelve miles distant from the first ; but it lacks confirmation. 



It is very likely that the exact date of this meteoric fall will 

 yet be ascertained, inasmuch as it must have taken place very 

 lately, and, without doubt, was attended with a notable report. 



Charleston, S. Car., March 16, 1876. 



