Analysis of the Meteoric Iron. 
415 
specific gravities of iron and nickel meteorolites as ranging 
from 6 '5 to 8-00. After the mass had been divided, the 
specific gravity was taken in a similar manner to the above, 
and the larger, heavier, and more solid half, gave a specific 
gravity of 6-499 ; the smaller and lighter half, as already 
mentioned by Dr Smith, having been broken in two, the pro- 
cess of taking the specific gravity was repeated on each of 
these, with the following results 
The smaller, rounded, or lobed portion gave, 6-1919 
The larger, or pointed portion of the mass, 6-7400 
The higher specific gravity of the pointed portion is appa- 
rently accounted for by its having been compressed more than 
the other parts. Dr Smith has also noticed that this portion 
was stated to be tougher before the edge of the graver. 
The analysis was made on some filings of the mass obtained 
before polishing the surfaces of the halves. I should have 
preferred for this purpose a sample derived from various parts 
of the mass, but this, it would appear, was not easy to obtain 
without endangering the good appearance of the meteorolite. 
There is no point in the analysis calling for special descrip- 
tion, except, perhaps, the determination of the nickel. This 
metal was estimated by dissolving a known weight of the 
meteorolite in hydrochloric acid, and after separation of the 
gangue of carbon and silica, the iron was peroxodized by heat- 
ing with nitric acid, and then the iron oxide was precipitated 
by carbonate of baryta, and the excess of baryta afterwards re- 
moved by sulphuric acid. The precipitate of sulphate of 
baryta was separated by filtration, and the filtrate presented a 
decided green colour, which on concentration was deepened, 
showing the amount of nickel it contained to be considerable. 
The nickel in this solution was then precipitated and weighed 
as oxide. To arrive at a good result, it was necessary to 
operate on as much as 60 or 70 grains of the meteorolite. In 
the course of this process other metals, such as manganese, 
chromium, cobalt, as well as magnetic oxide of iron, &c., were 
carefully sought for, but no trace of them could be discovered. 
The qualitative analysis, therefore, showed the presence of 
VOL. ir. 3 H 
