METEORITES, AND THE ORIGIN OF LIFE. 
399 
obtained a considerable quantity of the hydrocarbon C^H^+j 
analogous to rock-oil. The reduction takes place less readily 
in this case than in that of coal. Dr. Lawrence Smith finds 
the combustible portion of the material to amount to about 4*5 
per cent. 
1867. — This Indian meteorite, which fell at Groalpara about 
the year 1867 (the exact date is not known), was examined by 
Tschermak,who found it to contain 0*8 5 percent, of a hydrocarbon. 
The quantity, though small, materially affects the general appear- 
ance of the stone ; it can be recognized under the microscope as a 
smoky-brown, lustreless ingredient accompanying the fragments 
of nickel-iron. Of the 0*85 per cent. 0*72 is carbon and 0T3 
hydrogen. Tschermak suggests that the luminous phenomena 
so often attending the fall of an aerolite and the “ tail ” left by 
many meteors and shooting, stars may be due to the combustion 
of compounds of which carbon forms an important constituent. 
1868. July 11 th . — The curious meteorite of dull grey hue 
and loose structure which fell on this day at Ornans, Doubs, 
France, partly owes its dark colour to the presence of a hydro- 
carbon. 
1869. January 1st, 12.20 p.m. — A most remarkable fall of 
stones took place on Hew Year’s Day, 1869, at Hessle, near 
Upsala ; it is the first aerolitic shower recorded to have taken 
place in Sweden. The meteorites have so loose a structure 
that they break in pieces when thrown with the hand against 
the floor or frozen ground. The most interesting feature of 
the Hessle fall is the association with the stones referred to 
of matter mainly composed of carbon. The peasants of Hessle 
noticed that some of the meteorites which fell on the snow near 
Arno soon crumbled to a blackish-brown powder resembling 
coffee-grounds. Similar powder was found on the ice at Haf- 
slaviken in masses as large as the hand, which floated on water 
like foam, and could not be held between the fingers. A small 
amount secured for examination was found under the microscope 
to be composed of small spherules ; it contained particles ex- 
tractible by the magnet, and when ignited left a reddish-brown 
ash. Heated in a closed tube it gave a small brown distillate. A 
quantity dried at 110°C. possessed the following composition: — 
Carbon ...... 
51-6 
Hydrogen 
3-8 
Oxygen (calculated) .... 
15-7 
Silicic acid 
16-7 
Iron protoxide . . . . 
8-4 
Magnesia 
1*5 
Lime 
0-8 
Soda and Lithia 
1*5 
100-0 
