52 
RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 
within a quarter of an inch from the edge. The plates are about 
two-thirds of the natural size and represent the Widmanstatten 
figures as seen under different aspects of reflected light. The 
markings consist of bands of beam iron (kamacite), running in 
three directions, which cross each other approximately at angles 
of 60°. Under the glass the bands themselves shew usually two, 
and sometimes three series of finely -etched parallel lines, crossing 
at varying angles. Troilite is freely distributed throughout, 
occurring in nodules (PL xiii., right-hand top corner), and in 
the smaller patches and cracks. The latter are numerous, and 
mostly separate the bands of beam iron from each other. The largest 
nodule observed was one and a half cmrn. long and one cm. wide, and 
possessed a dark bronze-like metallic lustre. The nodules are lined 
by a darker substance, usually forming a very thin layer, which is 
thickened in places and continued into the cracks. The iron im- 
mediately surrounding the nodules is somewhat more brilliant 
than that further removed, but no defined line is generally to be 
seen separating this brighter iron from the remainder. The etched 
iron shews in places a very fine irregular mottling, forming occa- 
sionally more or less regular lines ; but this formation appears to 
he independent of the crystalline structure. Very small specks 
and strings of bright particles are very sparingly distributed 
throughout the iron, and in a relatively larger quantity occur with 
the troilite. By dissolving 0*21 14 grms. of the iron in hydrochloric 
acid in the cold, a residue containing *0380 grm. of a black 
powder and *0014 grm. of bright metallic particles was left undis- 
solved. The latter under the microscope were seen to consist of a 
mixture of brilliant grains and needles of a steel grey colour. The 
mass of the iron is almost entirely a mixture of beam iron (kama- 
cite) and troilite, but taenite and plessite do not appear to be 
developed. The bright grains and prisms are no doubt a mixture 
of the phosphides of iron and nickel (schreibersite and rhabdite), 
and the black powder of carbon and carbide of iron. I hope, 
however, to have a further opportunity of more closely examining 
this residue. The small quantity of residue insoluble in boiling 
acids consists mainly of carbon. 
Analysis . — To obtain an average sample for analysis, about 
twenty grams of small chippings were cut off from portions visibly 
free from troilite. 
I. 3*0702 grams of the above were dissolved in hydrochloric 
acid, and after separating the residue and precipitating the trace 
of copper present, the method of analysis was that adopted by 
Stanislas Meunier.* From the solution acidified with acetic acid, 
the nickel, cobalt and part of the iron were precipitated by 
* Stanislas Meunier, Encyclopedie chimique, ii., 1884, App. 2, Meteor- 
ites, p. 26 et seq. 
