356 FRANKLIN COUNTY (KY.) METEORIC IRON. 



from lead with which the mass was probably treated by the 

 original discoverers for the purpose of extracting some precious 

 metal, they being ignorant of its true nature. My reasons for 

 coming to this conclusion are, that the lead is found in cavities 

 near the surface of the iron, these cavities having channels of 

 more or less size leading to the exterior of the mass; the iron 

 is honey-combed in its character in many places, which is evi- 

 dent to the eye, and is also indicated by its specific gravity, 6.5. 

 In pieces of the iron detached from the interior of the mass, 

 and examined with the utmost care by a magnifying glass to 

 see that there is no possible fissure in it, no lead has been found. 

 These pieces are exceedingly difficult to obtain, and can only be 

 had in very small pieces. 



The crust of the iron having the most cavities furnishes 

 most lead, and is in some parts covered by a fused yellow crust 

 of oxide of lead; this last fact has no significance, however, in 

 the present consideration of the matter. Without venturing 

 to insist too sharply on the view here taken, after the careful 

 examination of so distinguished an observer as Mr. GJ-reg, I 

 recommend this view of the subject to those having larger 

 specimens of the iron than myself. 



