THREE NEW METEORITES. 



1. Lincoln County Meteorite. (Fell August 5, 1865.) 



This meteorite was examined several years ago, having 

 been sent to me for that purpose by Prof. J. M. Safford, State 

 Geologist of Tennessee. The result of my examination was 

 embodied in Professor Safford's report of the geology of Ten- 

 nessee for 1855, but has never received a special notice in any 

 scientific journal; and as it is not too late to make up that 

 deficiency, the following is sent for publication, embracing 

 Prof. Safford's account of its fall, with the chemical exami- 

 nation. The following particulars in regard to its fall were 

 furnished by Eev. T. C. Blake, of Cumberland University : 



"It fell two miles west of Petersburg and fifteen north-west 

 of Fayetteville, in Lincoln County, about half past three o'clock 

 p. m., August 5, 1855, during or just before a severe rain-storm. 

 Its fall was preceded by a loud report resembling that of a 

 large cannon, followed by four or five lesser reports. These 

 were heard by many persons in the surrounding country. Im- 

 mediately after this mass or fragment was seen by James B. 

 Dooley, Esq., to fall to the ground. It approached him from 

 the east, appeared while falling to be surrounded by a ' milky ' 

 halo two feet in diameter, and fell one hundred and fifty or two 

 hundred yards from him, burying itself about eighteen inches 

 in the soil. When first dug out it was too hot to be handled. 



"This specimen has an edge broken off, revealing the char- 

 acter of the interior. Within it is of an ashen -gray color, 

 varied by patches of white, yellowish, and dark minerals. 

 With the exception of the broken edge it is covered, and when 

 first obtained was entirely covered, as most meteorites of this 

 kind are, with a very 'black, shining crust, as if it had been 

 coated with pitch.' 



"One end or face, which may be regarded as the base, has an 

 irregular rhomboidal outline, averaging two and three fourths 





