370 



METEORIC IRONS OF NORTH MEXICO. 



6 ft. 6 in. 



THE SAN-GREGORIO METEORITE. 



This immense mass of meteoric iron is situated on the 

 western border of the Mexican Desert, a map of which is 

 given on the next page. Some idea of its form may be had 

 in the accompanying sketch. It measures six feet six inches 



in its greatest 

 length, is five 

 feet six inch- 

 es high, and 

 four ft. thick 

 at its base ; on 

 one part of its 

 surface 1821 

 is cut with a 

 chisel, and 

 above this 

 date is the 

 following in- 

 scription : 



"Solo dios con un poder este fierro destruerd, por que en el mondo 

 no habra quien lo puedo deschacer." 



It lies within the inclosure of a hacienda, having been hauled 

 to the ranch many years ago by the Spaniards, who thought 

 that it could be made use of as iron for farming utensils. It is 

 said to have fallen quite near its present site, and from its huge 

 bulk and weight, which is calculated to be about five tons, it 

 could not have been transported very far. Nothing more is 

 known of its history. Small specimens were detached by Dr. 

 Butcher, one of which I have examined. I find it to be of the 

 softer meteoric irons, with a specific gravity of 7.84. The frag- 

 ment I possess is too small for the study of the true character 

 of its Widmannstattian figures. On analysis it furnished the 

 following composition : 



Iron 95.01 



Nickel 4.22 



Cobalt 51 



Copper, minute trace. 



Phosphorus .08 



This San-G-regorio iron makes the fifth that has come under 

 my observation and examination from this famous Mexican 



