VICTORIAN METEORITES, WITH NOTES ON OBSIDIANITES. 
precaution. In the case of No. III., the analysis was made in dupli- 
cate with the following result : — 
Iron 
.. 57-65 .. 
57-74 
Nickel 
.. 35-57 .. 
35-87 
Cobalt 
.. 0-86 .. 
0-73 
Copper 
.. 0-32 .. 
0-32 
Phosphorus 
.. 2-87 .. 
2-87 
Residue 
.. 0-14 .. 
0-14 
97-31 .. 
97-67 
There is no reason to 
question the accuracy of any 
of the results 
obtained for the elements recorded.” 
It is interesting to note that Fletcher* found a similar difficulty 
in obtaining a summation with the taenite of a meteorite from 
Youndegin, Western Australia. He found a deficiency of 6 -5 
per cent., which he presumed to be due to combined oxygen. The 
present analyses are all included, to show the consistency of their 
low summation. It has been suggested that nitrides may be the 
cause of the deficiency. The marked variation in the phosphorus 
determinations, ranging from O’ 94 to 4-27 per cent., indicates a 
very irregular dispersal of the phosphor-nickel-iron in the taenite. 
While giving an idea of the total amount of phosphides in each 
sample, the figures do not permit a safe calculation to be made, as 
the relative proportions of the phosphides present, presumably 
rhabdite and schreibersite, are unknown. Taenite being a sub- 
stance of extreme variability of composition, the analyses strongly 
support the view that the variation is due to an absence of homo- 
geneity in the taenite plates, and that they consist of a mixture of a 
rich nickel alloy and kamacite (see 20 and 51). The action of the 
acid treatment used in separating the taenite from the mass has 
evidently had the effect of dissolving out to a greater or less extent 
the kamacite from the mixture. 
A nickel-iron, sometimes of a jagged form, and apparently 
somewhat less soluble than the bulk in cold dilute hydrochloric acid 
is evidently similar to that occurring in the Beaconsfield. Cohen 
(11, p. 1042) thinks it may be a mixture of kamacite and fine 
taenite plates, and, therefore, part of the plessite. 
Analyses of residual iron : — 
Cranbourne No. 2. 
Beaconsfield. 
Iron 
.. 92-77 
92-09 
Nickel . . 
6-77 
6-93 
Cobalt . . 
0-61 
0-56 
Copper. . 
trace 
Phosphorus 
0-12 
0-06 
100-27 
99-64 
Amount used 
1-50 
0-641 
* Mm. Mag., 1899, Vol. XII , p 174 . 
l>4] 
