METEORIC DUSTS, N.S.W. 257 



Meteoric Dust, Pambula. — This sample was collected by 

 Mr. H. Forde, on October 5th, 1899, who states that it fell 

 all over the township of Pambula (land district of Eden), 

 and bore the appearance of a thick red fog. This dust is 

 an extremely fine and impalpable powder of a pale brownish 

 tint. The average size of the particles is less than *01 mm. 

 As it apparently does not differ materially from the others, 

 it has not been analysed. 



Meteoric Dust from Menindie. — This specimen was 

 forwarded to me by Mr. H. 0. Russell, the Government 

 Astronomer, on November 23rd, 1899, who stated that it 

 had been collected by a friend during a recent red dust 

 rain storm, who took great care to get it pure ; on dry- 

 ing (under cover to keep the ordinary dust out of it) it 

 split up into pieces and curled up like a dried clay. Of a 

 reddish colour ; under the microscope it appears to be 

 composed principally of rounded quartz grains some of 

 which are reddish from a film of iron oxide. The average 

 size of the particles is *25 mm. or y^oth inch. Mixed with 

 the dust are some small pieces of calcium carbonate (con- 

 cretions and fragments of shells) also some fragments of 

 soft black readily combustible carbonaceous material, 

 which may be water-logged charcoal, from bush fires or 

 decayed wood ; there are also a few particles of black 

 mineral matter, probably chromite, but not yet examined* 



Analysis. 

 Moisture at 100° 0*85 



Loss on ignition ... 



.. 2*20 





Silica 



.. 89*15 





Iron ... 



.. 1*06 





Alumina 



.. 6*39 





Lime... 



•80 = 



1-43 OaOO. 



Magnesia 



.. traces 





Alkalis 



.. traces 







100*45 





Q— Nov. 5, 1902. 







