886 
DR. W. FLIGHT OH THE METEORITES OF 
Early in 1861 the spot was visited by Dr. Neumayer and Mr. Abel; one mass was 
found to weigh several hundred weight, the other from three to four tons. Their rela¬ 
tive position is shown in the accompanying small sketch map of the district. They 
were found to be beyond all question native, or rather meteoric, iron covered with a 
crust of the usual characters, in which the customary hollows were not wanting. This 
statement is, however, somewhat misleading; no crust corresponding to that of mag¬ 
netite, such as is presented by the Rowton siderite (see infra), is met with, but in 
place a layer of considerable thickness of hydrated oxides and magnetite, indicating a 
long period during which the blocks had lain in the earth. The relative positions of 
the two masses was S. 34° W. and N. 34° E. (magnetic declination), and they were 
3*6 miles (60 miles to a degree at the equator) apart. Both lay close to the surface, 
and were only so deeply imbedded that a point protruded from the soil. The latitude 
of the smaller block, which lies north of the other, is 38° 8' S. and the longitude 
145° 22' E.; those of the larger being latitude 38° 11' S. and longitude 145° 20' E. of 
Greenwich. The height above sea level of the former was 107 feet, and of the latter 
127 feet. 
They showed no polarity beyond that due to the action of the earth. The under 
side of each mass was strongly south magnetic, and on the upper side north magnetic. 
The longer axis of the Bruce meteorite, the larger mass, is about 5 English feet, and 
it lay exactly in the magnetic meridian of the place. 
Neumayer made a number of determinations of the specific gravity of the nickel- 
iron of the smaller mass, in the possession of Mr. Abel, ranging from 7T2 to 7’6, the 
crust being S'66. This block was sent to the International Exhibition in London in 
1862. The larger was brought down to Melbourne and placed in the University 
Grounds there, near the shore, and unfortunately exposed to the action of the sea¬ 
water. Efforts were made to delay the shipment of the Bruce meteorite to England, 
but eventually the smaller block was bought by the Trustees of the British Museum 
for £300, and it was presented to the Colonial Museum; the Bruce meteorite was 
then sent to this country. 
