Geology and Mineralogy. 403 



apparently in the same proportion as in the meteorite itself, from 

 which it is believed it was derived. Similar material, consisting 

 of magnetite in various forms, was also found within the crater at 

 depths varying from 300 to 500 feet. Part of this was in form of 

 small spherules or " shale balls "; these showed a nucleus of metal- 

 lic iron with an envelope of magnetite. The character and dis- 

 tribution of this magnetic oxide, the latter similar to that of the 

 masses of iron, furnish the authors with confirmation of the mete- 

 orite hypothesis as to the origin of the crater. Further confir- 

 mation is found in the distribution of the masses of meteoric iron 

 found, in the large amount of minutely pulverized silica, as well 

 as fragments of limestone, within the crater, and in the absence 

 of volcanic rocks or volcanic phenomena from the immediate 

 region. The meteoric masses have been found distributed over 

 a crescent-shaped area surrounding the hole and concentric with it, 

 extending from northwest to east. Only two or three masses of 

 the iron have been found within the crater itself. A number of 

 borings with the diamond drill were made in the effort to locate the 

 supposed mass or masses within the crater, one of these to a depth 

 of over 1000 feet. Several of them met with an obstruction of 

 undetermined nature, which was believed to be the expected 

 meteorite. The authors state that they have already begun to 

 sink a shaft in the center of the crater and that they propose to 

 carry it, if possible, to a depth sufficient to settle the question 

 beyond all possibility of doubt. It is much to be hoped that this 

 plan will prove practicable and that it may be carried to a success- 

 ful conclusion. It would be a matter of extraordinary and unique 

 interest to establish positively the truth of the hypothesis named. 



It is interesting to note, also, though not immediately con- 

 nected with the subject in hand, that a meteoric stone was found 

 by Mr. Barringer in June, 1905, not far from Coon Butte ; this is 

 described by Professor Mallet on an earlier page of this present 

 number. — Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., pp. 861-904, 1905. 



4. Geology of the New Hebrides ; by D. Mawson. Proc. 

 Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1905, pt. 3, pp. 400-485, pis. 15. — For the 

 benefit of the general reader it may be said at the outset that the 

 New Hebrides are an island group in the Pacific between lat. 14° 

 and 21° S. and long. 168° and 170° E. They are mountainous, 

 partly volcanic, heavily wooded, unhealthy, inhabited by about 

 50,000 natives, of Papuan stock, governed by a mixed commis- 

 sion of English and French naval officers. Area about 5100 

 square miles, divided among 12 principal islands. The larger 

 islands are high and show extensive exposures of volcanic rocks 

 underlying areas of raised coral formations, the latter showing in 

 places elevations of nearly 2000 feet. The smaller islands are 

 sometimes volcanic, sometimes of coral formation. There are 

 several active volcanoes in the group. The author describes 

 these geological features, listing the Miocene fossils in the bedded 

 rocks and giving in detail the petrography of the lavas. We 

 quote the following analyses made by him : 



Am. Jour. Sci.— Fourth Series, Vol. XXI, No. 125.— May, 1906. 

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