462 W. E. Hidden — Two masses of Meteoric Iron. 



the " Signet" from Arizona, which weighs more than half a 

 ton, the aperture being large enough for a man to crawl through. 

 The presence of holes in masses of meteoric iron is difficult to 

 explain. They may be caused by internal explosions, which, 

 rending the sides asunder, leave, sometimes a bridge, or else a 

 ring of metal, the explosions, resulting from the heat suddenly 

 generated by the friction of the mass, in contact with the 

 earth's atmosphere while the mass is moving at planetary speed. 

 An analysis, by Mr. James B. Mackintosh, of a piece cut 

 from the edge, gave the following results : 



Iron 91-22 



Phosphorus 0-16 



Nickel and cobalt 8*62 by difference. 



(Other elements not looked for.) 



100-00 



Widmanstatten lines (natural size) on the Independence County, 

 Arkansas, Meteoric Iron. 



It belongs to the class " Holosiderite " of Brezina — being- 

 free of stony matter, and closely resembles the irons of 

 Chulafinnee,* Alabama, and Whitfield County, f Georgia, pre- 

 viously described by the writer. 



* This Journal. Ill, vol. xix, p. 370. f Ibid, vol. xxi, p. 286. 



