VoL. I. 
168 The Queensland Naturalist. 
be assigned to well-defined groups, based on their com- 
position. 
The best known perhaps are the iron-meteorites. 
These are subdivided into (1) the siderites proper, composed 
in large part of metallic matter, and (2) the litho-siderites, 
in which the metallic portion forms a network that encloses 
stony matter (silicates), the latter being present, however, 
only in a subordinate degree. 
Then there are (3) the stone-m.eteorites, in which the 
stony matrix far exceeds the metallic part — sometimes 
spoken of as aerolites, with their two subdivisions — (a) 
those in which the stony matrix is more or less of a uniform 
character, and (b) those in Avhich there occur round or 
polyhedral masses from the size of a cherry downwards — 
composed of bronzite (enstatite), nickel iron, or chrysolite — 
named chondrites. The stony portion itself may be con- 
stituted of anorthite felspar, augites, olivine, etc. 
Reverting to the iron-meteorites, we again find them 
capable of being grouped into different sections depending 
on the physical character of the iron itself. 
Now the iron which is almost invariably found in 
meteorites, and which in the iron-meteorite may amount 
to 96 per cent, of its weight, is of a peculiar character, not 
observed — with one exception only — in any iron of terres- 
trial origin. Its special nature is dependent on its being 
combined with one or more other elements, amongst which 
nickel invariably is present. The nickel in fact may amount 
to from 2.8 to 28 per cent., the higher proportion, however, 
probably relating to the analysis of a portion of a meteorite 
that was not an average portio'n, and not expressive there- 
fore of its general constituency. 
Thus as the outcome of this varied association, we 
have (a) nickel-iron, the commonest mode of occurrence ; 
(b) phosphorus, nickel and iron — Bhabdit ; (c) the com- 
bination of {a) and {b), i.e., Tcenit ; {d) iron, nickel, cobalt 
and phosphorous, i.e., Schreibersit ; and {e), a combination 
of Schreibersit, with an additional group of the same 
constituents less phosphorous, the whole constituting 
Cohe7iit. In addition to the elements named, chrome, 
carbon and others may occur. 
An apparent exception to the generalization that a 
metal of natural origin in which iron and nickel are 
associated is of meteoric origin, is afforded by the well- 
known instance furnished by masses of iron met with at 
Ovifak in Discko Island, Greenland, occurring on a sheet of 
tertiary basalt, or in dolerite masses contained in the: 
same. This contains not only nickel, but in other respects 
reproduces the character of typical meteoric iron, especi- 
ally so far as relates to its chemical composition. 
