﻿312 G. F. Kunz — Meteoric Iron from New Mexico. 



and one edge shows a fracture suggesting cleavage. The mass 

 is 50 mm high, 125 mm long and 50 mm wide, or about 2x5x2 

 inches. One of the pittings, which has been increased in size 

 by the disruption, measures 60 mm in length, 25 mm in width, and 

 15 mm in breadth (see plates V and VI). 



No. 5 weighs 1*126 (2*48 lbs.), measures 100 mm in length, 7o mm 

 in width and 48 mm in height, about 4x3x2 inches. Five- 

 sixths of the entire surface bears marks of the violent disrup- 

 tion ; the mass was undoubtedly broken from the upper corner 

 between Nos. 1 and 3. A raised octahedral structure, resem- 

 bling a coarse network, is revealed on two-thirds of its surface, 

 and the pitted side shows evidence of having received a part of 

 the blow (see plates V and VI). 



No. 6 weighs 1*05 kilos., measures 125 mm in length, 82 mm in 

 width and 45 mm in thickness at the thickest part. It is quite 

 flat, the fracture having left a surface so flat as to be suggestive 

 of a cleavage. Altogether this mass closely resembles No. 4 

 (see plates V and VI). 



The 148-J lb. (No. 1) piece was found only eight feet from 

 the 115 lb." (No. 2) and 53-J lb. (No. 3) pieces, while the small 

 pieces picked up by Bullock and the Mexican were 45 or 50 

 feet from the large mass, being hurled farther on account of 

 their lightness. The fact that the pieces lay so near together 

 proves conclusively that the meteorite did not burst in mid air. 

 The pieces were all imbedded in the vegetable mould which 

 covered the rock at that place, the largest piece to the depth of 

 ten inches. 



Nearly the whole of the large mass (No. 1) has been cut into 

 slices. The iron is seen to be ver}?- homogeneous throughout 

 with the exception of an occasional space measuring l mm to 

 4 mm across. One of these spaces near the center of the mass 

 was evidently formed by the shock of disruption. In a few 

 instances this explanation is verified by a palpable curving of 

 the Widmanstattian figures, showing that nearly every part of 

 the thick mass was twisted and wrenched, when it burst 

 asunder with such tremendous force. The ruptured surface on 

 Nos. 1 and 3 shows large patches of troilite. In cutting No. 1 

 large streaks of this mineral and also some schreibersite were 

 observed. The largest of these lines of troilite was 10 cm long 

 and 4 mm wide. Two of the streaks, 10 cm apart, ran parallel to 

 each other in peculiar crescent-like formations. Olivine was 

 observed at the upper end of No. 1, a surface about 10 cm square 

 being completely filled with it. The color in some instances 

 was a rich brownish yellow, homogeneous throughout, and 

 as compact as in the " Pallas Iron." The largest grains ob- 

 served measured from 8 mm to 14 mm . Some of these pieces 

 yielded perfect transparent gems (peridots) over 4 mm in width 



