350 



THE WISCONSIN METEORITES. 



him etched. Should these markings be entitled to a separate 

 notice, I propose calling them Laphamite markings. The little 

 drawing accompanying this, which is on a somewhat exagger- 

 ated scale, will show what they are. 



The Widmannstattian figures are a, bright metallic, with 

 convex ends and sides ; k, of a darker color, are the other 

 markings, usually smaller and with the 

 sides and ends concave. The material of 

 which these dark figures are composed 

 seems to have enveloped the lighter col- 

 ored portion, which serves to make the 

 dark lines so beautifully conspicuous. A 

 good pocket-glass will show that the dark 

 figures are striated, with lines at right- 

 angles to the bounding surfaces. When the figure is nearly 

 square the lines extend from each of the four sides, but when 

 much elongated, as at c, they are parallel with the longer sides. 

 Often these lines do not reach the middle of the figure, where 

 only a confused crystallization can be detected. In the interior 

 of the elongated figures the lines are quite irregular, often run- 

 ning together and showing a striking resemblance to woody 

 fiber. The nature of these markings may be easily understood. 

 They indicate the axes of minute columnar crystals, which 

 tend to assume a position at right-angles to the surface of 

 cooling. 



These markings may have been observed by others ; and as 

 soon as the subject can be examined on other irons, a better 

 conclusion can be formed. 



