72 Farrvngton — Free Phosphorus in Meteorite. 



brownish white in contrast to the greenish black hue of the 

 remainder. This portion may prove on further examination, 

 therefore, to be differently constituted. The properties above 

 described are those of free phosphorus, however, and the 

 observations leave no doubt that it existed in the meteorite. 

 This seems to be the first known instance, then, of finding this 

 element existing in the free state in nature. 



The occurrence serves to point several conclusions regarding 

 the origin of meteorites, which, while they do not differ from 

 those now generally held by students of these bodies, emphasize 

 opinions which have at times been disputed. First, the mete- 

 orite was not formed upon the earth. Second, free oxygen was 

 not present where it was formed. Third, the interior of the 

 meteorite cannot have been subjected to any high degree of 

 heat since its aggregation in the solid state. 



Field Columbian Museum, 

 Chicago, 111. 



