\
AX AX
\\ NX AN
S
\
\
AR RAN RAY A RAY - RA \ NY SS
Yj LLL
ae
\< <<
Lt Yi yyy
Ze tH; Zn
Z
me oe ZZ LIF, Ti HUI
a Zi
NA \ YY QW << XK «
eS WW ANS AK AX
\) \ SS \Y x
~ SS NN
Zi
CEE Zp ten Z Yj tj; oe
LE
\ \
aoe
Hee Lt
iz
oF A Yj;
Cue tis
tij7 GE Ze
ee Li
Zi ty
Sov AA eye)
SAAS ; \\ \
WINS
NS
x SNS
‘ AN
ATs A - AA pee
ee PRO, © oe ot
* Ee pie ee i
a 4 7 oe) an 4 Y Y of we 9 . 's oy
Rete. Rosy ie een ann ard
Oat aes * 2 ‘ we : . , . > . “= & ‘ J x « - ~ ‘ * a a . : ‘ . - ‘ - ae . 7 - < - 3 - a 7 + 4 oa 4 . r i ae ie - >a ~ ‘z 2 r * - i - - e * z i os = 5 / é _ . . - - “ . w . 2 “ S : ¢ = nei . a % : “ 4 bf _% _ } fut - oe 4 os = a oe . ¥ - i. am mas
DAs on aN
a ia
BULLETIN 94 PL. 1
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
"991 anv ‘eg ‘LG saovd 338 SNOILdINOS3d HOY e9l
"SNOU] OTdVIG NONVO GN ‘NOSONL
‘SSQNVUS) SVSVO
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM Bulletin 94
HANDBOOK AND DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE METEORTIE: COLLECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
BY
GEORGE P. MERRILL Head Curator of Geology, United States National Museum
WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1916
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM IssuED May 25, 1916.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The scientific publications of the United States National Museum consist of two series, the Proceedings and the Bulletins.
The Proceedings, the first volume of which was issued in 1878, are intended primarily as a medium for the publication of original, and usually brief, papers based on the collections of the National Museum, presenting newly acquired facts in zoology, geology, and anthro- polegy, including descriptions of new forms of animals, and revisions of limited groups. One or two volumes are issued annually and dis- tributed to libraries and scientific organizations. A limited number of copies of each paper, in pamphlet form, is distributed to specialists and others interested in the different subjects, as soon as printed. The date of publication is printed on each paper, and these dates are also recorded in the table of contents of the volumes.
The Bulletins, the first of which was issued in 1875, consist of a series of separate publications comprising chiefly monographs of large zoological groups and other general systematic treatises (occa- sionally in several volumes), faunal works, reports of expeditions, and catalogues of type-specimens, special collections, ete. The ma- jority of the volumes are octavos, but a quarto size has been adopted in a few instances in which large plates were regarded as indispen- sable.
Since 1902 a series of octavo volumes containing papers relating to the botanical collections of the Museum, and known as the Contribu- tions from the National Herbarium, has been published as bulletins.
The present work forms No. 94 of the Bulletin series.
Ricuarp Ratueun, Assistant Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, In charge of the United States National Museum.
WasHInctTon, D. C., March 29, 1916. mu
PREFACE.
The handbook and catalogue presented herewith is intended pri- marily for the use of the general public, but the subject matter is ut the same time so arranged as to meet the needs of the student and investigator as well, though naturally an exhaustive discussion of some of the more abstruse problems is omitted. The descriptive matter is most complete regarding falls of which the collections contain what is considered a fair representation. Indeed, the exhi- bition portion of the collection is limited to specimens of upwards of 50 grams in weight, all under this weight being relegated to the drawer or study series. The entire collection numbers at the time this catalogue goes to press 329 falls and finds, and is accompanied by an equal number of thin sections for microscopic study.
The bibliography is intentionally. brief, reference being made only to such publications as have furnished the information given in the abstract. Wiilfing’s Die Meteoriten in Sammlungen und ihre Litera- tur, 1897, is believed to make greater elaboration unnecessary.
Since the issue of the two previous catalogues, that by Dr. F. W. Clarke in 1889, and that by Mr. Wirt Tassin in 1902, the entire collec- tion has been re-catalogued, independent of the mineral collection of which it had previously been considered a part, and is now treated as belonging more properly to petrology.
Inasmuch as the Shepard collection is given a case by itself, it has been thought advisable to list it here independently, as was done in Doctor Clarke’s catalogue of 1889. That collection comprises 234 falls and finds, of which 83 are not represented in the National Museum collection proper. The combined collections, therefore, number +12 independent falls and finds.
January 1, 1916.
bee
na (i a
Pa hace
Ds os Ns Te “ify
ae cs, ape. te? Angi? ee . iu oes ari ae Raat ee iba ae ay , adh ds. Deteyeres eta a i as HW Bia: JOR RC “hye Oe. i
a os ; : ; i 1 ee 2 tent MN ylge bs (Panic? al Shae ce
es Ow * Otek : as ea 1a oe ike, a hand Aid Ms na hes aie rast in gaiaias Rigs valet earls iret ac oe tii “yeh! PRE atin, spelt ali venig, WS Seah i aM og an? a vi. pariy “ cutie Ala! ; an na We &i ies a aglett Mg
= / : a 4 ‘AES ate SGT ae A 2s
We ais shh 7} laageetetie ai
Le oes cy
Ba 8 eh es Reni ye Siew s | Seen gs . oi te Hida: So ad ory: Sa , gceh iM, “ eet rt a w or aes diy taaa Dinettes ae a ik SaaS
ae ae i ee ee ett aust wT. glk ail dh dae ae ae Lg ois oo oti gobs GH id S2 i hse AL a atk ois 7 ie rae
a ils 3 a .
Bie eae Bat a team et os Sree
CONTENTS.
Part I.
Introduction; classification; mineral composition ; chemical composition ; structure; early records and opinions ; phenomena and number of falls__
Part II.
Descriptive catalogues: A. Museum collection, alphabetical list and descriptions; list of
APPENDIX A,
Moldavites, billitonites, and other glasses of supposed meteoric origin____
APPENDIX B.
Examples of metallic iron, in part alloyed with nickel, in terrestrial TC CCR ea 8 Tn ee c
vil
Page.
1
201
207
PLATE 1.
10. ibe 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.
18. 19.
LIST OF PLATES.
Facing page.
Casas Grandes, Tucson, and Canon Diablo irons____________
. Microstructure of (1) Juvinas and (2) Shergotty stones______ . Microstructure of (1) El Nakhla stone and (2) Estherville
VE SOS LECT TG gs ae EN as TAs hI ORE Ne hn)
. Microstructure of (1) Estacado and (2) Selma stones________ . Microstructure of (1) Enstatite chondrule in Elm Creek stone, ~
(2) Enstatite chondrule in Hendersonville stone, (3) Ensta- tite chondrule in Coon Butte stone, (4) Enstatite chondrule in Tennasilm stone, (5) Barred olivine chondrule in Beaver CWreeksstOme ree 8 tex SF NS Ne EARS es Bre a a a
. Microstructures showing (1) variations in size-and form of
chondrules in Cullison stone, (2) large oval chondrule in Tennasilm stone, (3) angular chondrule with border of me- tallic iron in Parnallee stone, and (4) clino-enstatite chon- ARH GINA MISO StO DE! ee see ee EE SEAS RS) RR te od
. Microstructure of (1) black crust on Allegan stone, and (2)
OMbDlackAveinviny Blufe StONG ses ees oe en esi sR oo Ae
. Two specimens of Admire pallasite, as found_______________ . Section of (1) metallic portion, and (2) polished slice of
PNOTIFE EDA ASTtGs See ea es ee Ske Ce ee Polished slices of (1) Ahumada pallasite, and (2) of Ains- WGI UIT aie 0 Td sae oe eke eee er Bree ee ae eer eae Polished slice of (1) Brenham pallasite, and (2) the Allegan ME TCOLRCTS LOM Cet err eee ee ee eee ee ee ee ee ee Ce as Polished slice of (1) Canon Diablo iron, and (2) etched sliee OL@ATIS HES LTO Nee arse a ar ke UE ee eee it A Oxidized Canon Diablo iron, (1) as found, (2) sliced to show RON Hea LT eT] Uy Sa SR a sa ne ee ees ERI Kiched slice of Canon Diablo iron, showing numerous troilite TT GUT Sea RE DE Seperate ge Ree ne elle ees elt OF ee ra Casas Grandes iron, weight 3,407 pounds__________________ Biched' slice: os) Casas, Grandes irom tak ae) eco (1) Canon Diablo iron, showing large cavity, and (2) Couch, Coahuilasor: Sanchez) Hstaterinonere saan ee ae Two views of the Cullison stone, as found__________-_-_-_ Polished slices of the Cullison stene, (1) enlarged about 5 diam- eters, (2) about two-thirds natural size, and (3) iron sul- phide capped at right by metallic iron_____________________
. Etched slices of (1) Kendall County, and (2) Coopertown irons_ . (1) Felix stone, as found, and (2) the third largest stone of
the Fisher fall, weighing 1,800 grams_____ Se eee NAN ai
. Etched slice of Gibeon (Mukerop) iron____________________ ag . Two views of Hendersonville stone, as found__.___-____
Title. 16
16 18
18
20
20 30
30
60 60
trate 74
LIST OF PLATES.
Facing page. 78
Microstructure of the Hendersonville stone__________________
25. Complete individuals of (1) Holbrook and (2) Modoc stones__
31. 32. 33.
34.
395.
37. 38. 39. 40.
41.
» Microstructure: of the indarchy Stone mss ee ee ee . Mount) Vernon pallasite as foun (sae sere gee . Polished slice of Mount Vernon pallasite_____________-________ . Front and reverse of Perryville iron, as found, about one-half
natural: :sizes2e 2252 FE 2 Se ee ee Be
. Etched surfaces of Perryville iron, (1) enlarged about 2 diam-
eters, and (2) magnified surface photographed under the microscope’ by reflected) Wieht 222 ete ee ee a Polished surface of (1) Persimmon Creek, and (2) of Putnam County, irons... 2525 — ee er ee ee ee Two views of the Rich Mountain stone=__2_ 2222) 2 2225023 (1) Etched slice of Sacramento iron, (2) Dendritic schreiber- site in Arispe iron, (8) Etched slice of Santa Rosa iron, showing) numerons troilite nodules=]== =e Microstructure of the Selma stone, (1) showing microstructure and fragmental nature of olivine and enstatites, (2) chon- drules of porphyritiec olivine, and (8) chondrule of erypto- erystalline ,enstatite s =n 9 2 a ee ae ea View of (1) Thomson stone, about three-fourths natural size, ands (2) etched sheeyoteTLolueas iron eee ee
. Etched slice of (1) Willamette iron, and (2) of Tombigbee
River iron, showing large schreibersite inclosures___________ Prof, Charles Upham Shepard s(portrait) 22-2] Se ae Shepard collection of meteorites in the U. S. National Museum_ (1) The Dalton iron and (2) New Concord stone, from the
Shepard: ;collectlon... adler Specimens of the Estherville mesosiderites, from the Shepard
GOllCGTIO TAA. i see Se a ie Moldavites and similar sporadic glasses, (1-3) billitonites
from the island of Billiton, (4-6) moldavites from Moldavia
and Bohemia, and (7-9) australites and an obsidian button from. -Australig. = 23362) fbn nt esr es PA ee
81 85 114 114
126
126 130 130
135
148 157 170 174 175 181
183
HANDBOOK AND DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
By Grorce P. Merri1y, Head Curator of Geology, United States National Museum.
PART I. INTRODUCTION.
The name meteorite is given to the masses of metal and mineral matter which come to the earth from space in the form of falling bodies and which are commonly considered identical in nature with the meteors, or so-called shooting stars, which on clear nights may often be seen darting rocket-like across the sky. The origin of these bodies was for a long time in question, and even now we are quite in the dark concerning their ultimate source, though there is apparently little doubt that they are from regions outside of our solar system and come to us in the form of gradually disintegrating comets.
The elemental matter of meteorites is the same as that of the earth, though differing apparently in proportional amounts and certainly often in form of combination. The most abundant of the meteoric elements are, named in alphabetical order: Aluminum, Calcium, Car- bon, Iron, Magnesium, Nickel, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Silicon, and Sulphur. More rarely and in smaller quantities are found Chlorine, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Hydrogen, Iridium, Lithium, Manga- nese, Nitrogen, Palladium, Platinum, Potassium, Ruthenium, So- dium, Titanium, and Vanadium, probably also Argon and Helium. The presence of Antimony, Arsenic, Gold, Lead, Strontium, Tin, and Zinc has from time to time been reported, but recent investigation has thrown doubt upon the correctness of the determinations.+
Meteorites vary in composition from those which are composed almost wholly of the silicate minerals, olivine and pyroxene, with perhaps a little feldspar, to those which are almost wholly of nickel- iron. Frequent gradations are met with, but nevertheless it is pos-
Be ya AE Ng ee eee es ee eee eee 1 Merrill, On the minor constituents of meteorites, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 35, 1913, p. 509. 5692°—Bull. 94—_16——-1 . 1
2 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
sible, as a rule, to separate them into three somewhat ill-defined groups, as follows:
Aerolites or Stony ee ae essentially of silicate minerals with minor Meteorites. amounts of the metallic alloys and sulphides.
Siderolites or Stony-iron
Meteorites. of metal, the interstices of which are occupied by
Consisting of an extremely variable nétwork or sponge the silicate mineral.
Siderites or Iron \ Consisting essentially of an alloy of nickel-iron with Meteorites. iron phosphides and sulphides.
Examples of these are shown in the introductory series in the case.
Many attempts have been made at a more detailed classification than that given above, the one most generally accepted being that proposed by Dr. A. Brezina, formerly in charge of the meteorite collections of the Austrian Museum, in Vienna. It is altogether too technical for the general reader, and indeed the distinctions are often founded on matters of such minor importance that fragments from different portions of the same mass have been classed under quite different heads. It is, however, the form followed here, though with- out too great emphasis on what are believed to be matters of minor import. It may be well to state in advance that the term chondrule (Latin Chondrum and Chondri) refers to the peculiar spherical and oval shapes often assumed by the silicate constituents, the formation of which affords one of the most interesting puzzles in connection with the origin of meteorites, and further, that all known meteorites are of an igneous nature.
CLASSIFICATION.
I. MeTEorIC STONES: AEROLITES.
A. Meteorites rich in calcium and aluminum-bearing minerals, poor in nickel-iron and without chondrules.
1. Angrite (A): Consisting essentially of a calcium rich augite with a little olivine and iron sulphide; structure crystalline granular.
2. Eukrite (Eu): Consisting essentially of augite and anorthite with a little iron sulphide; structure basaltic.
3. Shergottite (Sh) : Consisting essentially of augite and maskely- nite with a little magnesia; structure crystalline granular.
4. Howardite (Ho and Hob): Consisting essentially of augite, anorthite, bronzite, and olivine; structure in part tuff-like and in part crystalline.
B. Meteorites rich in magnesian minerals, poor in nickel-iron, and for the most part without chondrules.
1. Bustite (Bu): Consisting essentially of diopside and bronzite with sometimes plagioclase, nickel-iron, osbornite, and oldhamite; structure crystalline.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 3
2. Chassignite (Cha) : Consisting essentially of olivine and a little chromite; structure crystalline granular.
3. Chladnite (Chl) : Consisting essentially of a rhombic pyroxene; structure crystalline granular.
4, Amphoterite (Am): Consisting essentially of olivine and bronz- ite with a little iron sulphide and nickel-iron; structure sometimes granular, sometimes chondritic.
C. Meteorites rich in magnesium minerals and consisting essen- tially of olivine, bronzite, nickel-iron, and iron sulphide, with a fragmental or tuff-like base and chondritic structure.
1. Howarditic chondrite (Cho) : A group jntermediate between the chondrites and achondrites.
2. White chondrites: Consisting of a yellowish-white tufaceous base with chondrules mostly of the same color. This group is divided into three subgroups: (a) White chondrites (Cw) ; (6) veined white chon- drites (Cwa), and (c) breccia-like white chondrites (Cwhb).
3. Intermediate chondrites: A group including forms intermediate between the white and the gray chondrites. This group is divided also into three subgroups: (a) Intermediate chondrites (Ci), (6) veined intermediate chondrites (Cia), and (¢) breccia-like interme- diate chondrites (Cib).
4, Gray chondrites: Consisting of a yellowish to a bluish-gray tuff- like base, with variously colored chondrules which are firmly em- bedded in the groundmass. The group is divided into: (a) Gray chondrites (Cg), (6) veined gray chondrites (Cga), and (c) breccia- like gray chondrites (Cgb).
5. Black chondrites: Consisting of a dark gray to black, firm chondritic mass, the color of which is due in part to carbon and in part to iron sulphide; chondrules mostly of a light color.
6. Spherical (Kiigelchen) chondrites: Consisting of numerous hard and well-formed chondrules in varying proportions, in a tuff-like or crystalline ground, sometimes so loosely imbedded as to break away from the ground and sometimes breaking with it. This group is divided into five subgroups, as follows: (a) Ornansite and Ngawite (Cco and Cen); (6) spherical or Kiigelchen chondrites (Cc); (e) veined Kiigelchen chondrites (Cca); (d) breccia-like Kiigelchen chondrites (Ccb); (e) crystalline Kiigelchen chondrites (Ccek).
7. Crystalline chondrites: Consisting of a crystalline groundmass with firmly imbedded chondrules. The group is divided into three subgroups: (a) Crystalline chondrites (Ck); (6) veined crystalline chondrites (Cka) ; (¢) breccia-like crystalline chondrites (Ckb).
8. Carbonaceous chondrites (K and Ke): This includes a group of chondritic stones impregnated with carbon and containing little or no iron.
4 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
9. Orvinite (Co): A small group consisting of chondrules in a blackish ground, showing a fluidal structure. It has at present but one representative.
10. Tadjerite (Ct): Consisting of a dark, for the most part half glassy ground containing chondrules.
11. Ureilite (Cu) : Consisting essentially of olivine, with sometimes chondritic and sometimes granular structure, of a dark, nearly black color, and often showing transition stages into the next class.
II. Stony-IrRon METEORITES: SIDEROLITES.
Meteorites consisting of silicate minerals in a more or less discon- nected mesh or sponge of nickel-iron.
1. Lodhranite (Lo): Consisting of a crystalline granular mixture of olivine and bronzite in a fine, more or less disconnected network or sponge of metal.
2. Mesosiderite (Grahamite) (M): Consisting essentially of oliv- ine, bronzite, plagioclase, and augite, sometimes chondritic, sometimes crystalline granular, in a more or less interrupted network or sponge of metal.
3. Siderophyre (S) : Consisting essentially of bronzite and nickel- iron with accessory asmanite in a network of nickel-iron of octahedral crystallization and showing Widmanstatten figures.
4, Pallasite (P): Consisting of olivine in a continuous network or sponge of metal.
5. Meteoric iron breccia (Obc): Meteorites consisting of crystal- line chondrules in a breccia-like mass of octahedral iron.
6. Meteoric iron of Netschaévo (Omn): Meteorites consisting of crystalline chondrules in a mass of octahedral nickel-iron.
III. NicKket-IRoN METEORITES: SIDERITES.
Meteorites consisting essentially of nickel-iron with iron sulphide and phosphide and usually graphite or other form of carbon.
1. Octahedral irons: Consisting essentially of nickel-iron alloys arranged in the form of plates parallel with the faces of an octa- hedron, and often interlaminated with thin plates of schreibersite. On etching with acid they show Widmanstiitten figures. According to the thickness of the plates they are divided as follows: (a) Octahedral irons with lamelle 0.1 mm. in thickness (Off); (0) octa- hedral irons with lamellz 0.15 to.0.4 mm. in thickness (Of); (e) octahedral irons with lamelle 0.5 to 1 mm. in thickness (Om); (d) octahedral irons with lamelle 1.5 to 2 mm. in thickness (Og); (e) octahedral irons with lamella over 24 mm. in thickness (Ogg); (/) breccia-like octahedral irons (Obz).
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 5
2. Hexahedral irons: Homogeneous masses of nickel-iron with evident cleavage parallel to the faces of a hexahedron and showing lamellze due to the twinning of a cube on an octahedral face. On etching they show Neumann lines. These are divided into: (a) hexahedral irons (H); (6) brecciated hexahedral irons (Hb); (e) the Cape Iron group (Hea); (d) the Chesterville group (Hch).
3. Massive irons: Amorphous irons showing neither Neumann nor Widmanstitten lines or other structural features such as permit . satisfactory classification. Doctor Brezina has divided them into five groups: (a) the Babb’s Mill group (Db); (0) the Nedagolla group (Dn); (¢)the Primitiva group (Dp); (d) the Senegal group (Ds); (e) the Tucson group (Dt).
MINERAL COMPOSITION.
Though the elemental matter of meteorites may be the same as in terrestrial rocks, the form of combination is at times radically differ- ent and of a nature to indicate that they formed under conditions quite unlike those existing on the earth to-day, and particularly so with reference to the presence of free oxygen and moisture.
The following list comprises meteoric minerals which are also con- stituents of terrestrial rocks: Olivine, the orthorhombic pyroxene enstatite (or bronzite), the monoclinic pyroxenes diopside and augite, the plagioclase feldspars anorthite, labradorite, or oligoclase, the phosphate apatite, the oxides magnetite and chromite, the sulphides pyrite and pyrrhotite, rarely the carbonate breunnerite and various forms of carbon including graphite and diamond. Those minerals found rarely if ever in terrestrial rocks are the various alloys of nickel and iron, to which the names kamacite, taenite, and plessite have been given, the nickel and iron phosphide schreibersite, the iron monosulphide ¢rodlite, the iron and chromium sulphide daubreelite, the iron protochloride lawrencite, the calcium and titanium (or zir- conium) oxysulphide osbornite, the iron and nickel carbide cohenite, the carbon silicide moissanite, an isotropic mineral believed to be a re-fused plagioclase and called maskelynite, and asmanite, a form of silica. These are described in some detail, in alphabetical order, below:
A patite—The phosphoric acid reported in the numerous analyses of meteoric stones has usually been considered a constituent of the mineral apatite. As a matter of fact, crystals of this mineral in a meteorite have been actually observed only by Berwerth, in the stony portion of the Kodaikanal, India, siderolite. Recent investigations have shown that the prevalent phosphatic mineral is not apatite, but a mineral of nearly the same composition, differing in its crystallo- graphic and optical properties, and perhaps identical with francolite. Its exact nature remains yet to be ascertained.
6 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Asmanite.—This name was proposed by Maskelyne* for a mineral consisting essentially of silica, occurring in the meteorite of Breiten- bach, of which it composed nearly one-third of the siliceous portion. The mineral, when pure, is colorless, with a specific gravity of 2.245, a hardness of 5.5, and is rhombic in crystallization. It is commonly believed to be identical with the tridymite of terrestrial rocks.
Breunnerite.—This is the name given by Haidinger to a ferriferous variety of magnesium carbonate found in terrestrial rocks and in a single instance in a meteoric stone, that of Orgueil, France. It is the only instance known of a carbonate compound occurring as an original constituent of meteorites.
Carbon.—Carbon as carbon monoxide (CO) or dioxide (CO,), as a hydrocarbon or in the amorphous, or crystalline form of graphite, has been recognized as a constituent of certain meteorites, particularly meteoric irons, for many years. Berzelius recognized a carbon com- pound in the stone of Alais as early as 1838. Wo6hler and Cloez in 1839 found compounds resembling residue from terrestrial organic substances in the meteoric stone of Cold Bokkeveld, while the French chemist Berthelot extracted hydrocarbons conformable with the pe- troleum series from the carbonaceous meteoric stone that fell in Or- gueil, France, in 1864. The American chemist J. Lawrence Smith and others have since repeatedly reported the presence of carbon in both the amorphous and crystallized forms of graphite in numerous analy- ses of stone and iron meteorites.
Haidinger, in 1846, described a cubic form of graphite in the meteoric iron of Arva (Magura), Hungary, as pseudomorphic after pyrite, but which Rose suggested was pseudomorphic after diamond. In 1886 H. Carvill Lewis, after studying the matrix of the South African diamond, predicted the discovery of diamonds in meteorites. In 1888 Jerofeieff and Latschinoff found carbon with the hardness and form of the diamond in the Novo-Urei, Russia, meteoric stone. Tn 1889 was found the first colorless material, thought from its hard- ness and its burning into CO, to be diamond, in the Arva iron. In 1891 George A. Koenig of Philadelphia found a black vitreous sub- stance, of a hardness beyond sapphire and believed to be diamond, in the meteoric iron of Canon Diablo. Material from this source was subsequently examined by O. W. Huntington and found to contain unmistakable, minute, colorless, octahedral crystals of diamond. Two examples of these are shown in Exhibit No. 473. The French chemist Moissan in this same iron found in addition carbon in the amorphous form, as graphite, and as black diamond or carbonado. Moissanite, a silicide of carbon, perhaps identical with artificial carborundum, was found by this chemist in the meteoric iron of Canon Diablo.
1 Philos. Trans. Royal Soc. London, 1871, p. 361.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. q
Chromite and magnetite-—The oxides of chromium and iron, or of iron alone, are common constituents of terrestrial rocks as well as of meteorites, and need no further mention here other than that they occur as small, usually microscopic disseminated crystals and crystal- line grains.
Daubreelite—In 1876 J. Lawrence Smith gave this name to a black, lustrous, highly crystalline material found by him associated with the troilite in the meteoric irons of Coahuila, Mexico. Incomplete analy- ses made at the time showed 36.48 per cent of sulphur, some 10 per cent of iron, and a little carbonaceous matter, the undetermined por- tion being chromium. The true composition he announced as being, probably, sulphur 37.62 per cent; chromium 62.38 per cent. Later he was able to isolate the material in larger quantity and greater degree of purity from the Coahuila iron, and in 1878 ? he published new analy- ses and descriptions showing the mineral to have the probable com- position: Sulphur, 44.29 per cent; chromium, 36.33 per cent; iron, 19.38 per cent; or the formula FeS Cr, S,. Actual analyses, however, showed: Sulphur, 42.69 per cent; chromium, 35.91 per cent; iron, 20.10 per cent; total, 98.70 per cent.
Feldspars and maskelynite—From what is known regarding ter- restrial basic igneous rocks, the feldspars of meteorites would natu- rally be assumed to belong to the more basic varieties, as labradorite and anorthite. Not many actual and complete analyses are avail- able owing to the difficulty of securing a sufficient quantity of ma- terial in a fair degree of purity. Those quoted below show that in at least two instances the feldspar is oligoclase, a form characteristic of rocks of intermediate acidity, as the diorites. The name maskelynite, it should be stated, was given by Tschermak ® to an isotropic, colorless mineral, abundant in the Shergotty meteorite, and commonly consid- ered a re-fused feldspar. The mineralogist Groth, on the other hand, was inclined to believe it to be a species allied to leucite. The feldspars are common constituents of meteorites of the basaltic types, such as that of Juvinas in France, where they occur in elongated poly- synthetically twinned forms as in terrestrial rocks. In the chondritic types they occur as scattered granules occupying the interspaces of the olivines and enstatites, and often quite lacking in crystal outlines or twinning bands, in which case their satisfactory determination is a matter of great difficulty. In many meteorites of the chondritic type, and in most pallasites, feldspars are wholly lacking. .
1 Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 12, 1876, p. 109. 2 Idem, vol. 16, 1878, p. 270. 8 Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 65, 1872, p. 127,
8 BULLEBIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Analyses of meteoric feldspars.
Sources. Constituents. Hvittis.! Hessle.2 | Shergotty.® Bilica:. tess cess 63.5 64. 97 56.3 AlUMING 55.250. < 22.2 22. 06 25. 7, TIMOee cae esc arr 4.0 3.01 11.6 Bodaor see ess. 9.2 9. 96 5 Potash see asc eese USL OF as whines 1.3
1 Borgstrém, Bull Comm. geol. Finlande, No. 14, 1903. 2Lindstrém, Ofv. Kongl. Vet.-Akad. Forhandl., 1869, p. 723. 8Tschermak, Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 65, 1872, p. 130.
From these analyses it would appear that 1 and 2 are to be classed as oligoclase and 3 as labradorite.
Gaseous constituents.—The fact that hydrogen was given off when the Lenarto (Italy) meteoric iron was heated in a vacuum was first noted by Thomas Graham in 1867. J. W. Mallet, in 1872, found the meteoric iron of Augusta County, Va., under similar circumstances yielded not merely hydrogen but also nitrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) and carbonic acid (CO,). A. A. Wright, in 1875 and 1876, showed (1) that the stony meteorites differ from the iron in having oxides of carbon, chiefly as CO,, as their characteristic gases, instead of hydrogen; (2) the proportion of CO, given off at low is greater than at high temperatures; (3) the amount of gases contained in a large meteorite, or cluster serving as a cometary nucleus, is sufficient to form the train; (4) the spectrum of the gases is closely identical with that of several comets.
Doubts which may have been thrown on these results as first an- nounced were eliminated by the later investigations. In the stony (chondritic) meteorites the percentage of CO is conspicuously small compared with that of CO,, while in the irons the conditions are reversed. Recent work by R. T. Chamberlin furnished data for the following summary of averages:
Type. analy- | COs. co. CH. He. No. | Total. ses. Stony moteorites ss -ssase ce nacesinadcescenss = 12 3.77 0. 24 0. 20 0.50 0.09 4.80 JronMmeteoritess joe sacs ces asec 9 21 - 67 02 1. 67 24 2.81
Subsequently Prof. William Ramsay, of London, detected the prob- able presence of argon and helium.
Lawrencite——Protochloride of iron. The exudation of drops of ferrous chloride from freshly cut or broken surfaces of meteoric iron
¥
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 9
was early noted, but it was not until 1855 that J. Lawrence Smith found the material in the condition of a soft solid of a green-brown color in the meteoric iron of Tazewell County, Tenn.t In 1877? he also noted the occurrence of the substance in the iron of Rockingham County, N. C. In this same year Daubree noted its occurrence in the terrestrial iron of Ovifak, Greenland,? and proposed for it the name lawrencite in honor of its first discoverer. The material liquefies on exposure to the atmosphere, the iron passing over quickly to the con- dition of sesquioxide. It is this feature that brings about the rapid disintegration of so many irons and causes the stone meteorites to become rust-brown or freckled with rust-colored spots.
Metallic constituents; nickel-iron alloys.—These are essentially the same in all meteorites. They occur in varying proportions from a fraction of 1 per cent, as in the Bishopville stone, to upward of 90 per cent, as in the so-called iron varieties. In the stones the form is that of disconnected drops or stringers; in the pallasites that of a more or less disconnected mesh or sponge enfolding silicate minerals; and in the metallic forms constituting nearly the entire mass. Etching by means of a weak acid, the polished surface of a meteoric iron will in the majority of cases give rise to an interesting series of markings known under the name of Widmanstiitten figures, after a German chemist who first brought them to public notice. They are due to the unequal solubility of the three alloys of iron and nickel which make up the mass of the material. Two of these alloys occur in the form of thin plates and are known by the terms kamacite and taenite. A third alloy, known as plessite, fills the space formed by the intersec- tion of these plates (see etched slices of the Casas Grandes and Toluca irons, pls. 16 and 35). The composition of these alloys has not been absolutely determined, owing to the difficulty of separating them one from another, and it is considered probable that the so-called plessite is but a mixture or intergrowth of the other two. Davison gives the composition of the two first named as determined on separations made from the Welland, Canada, iron, as follows:
Constituents. Kamacite. | Taenite.
Per cent. Per cent.
Tron see see cele 93. 09 74. 78 Nickels 2.) 0 .< 6. 69 24, 32 Cobalt 2222-5. .se- -25 -30 Carbon==2¢.4). aga - 02 . 50
100. 05 99. 93
2 Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 19, 1855, p. 154, 2Idem, vol. 18, 1877, p. 214. ®Compt. Rend., vol. 84, 1877, p. 66.
10 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
In the Casas Grandes, Toluca, and many other irons, these plates are arranged parallel with the faces of an octahedron, as shown in the examples in the introductory series. Such are known as octa- hedral irons. Other irons yielding no Widmanstiitten figures give, on etching, lizes which the mineralogist Neumann showed might re- sult from a twinning of a cube about an octahedral face. These are known as hexahedral irons, an example of which is shown in the slice from Scottsville, Kentucky (No. 77), or in the large “ Couch ” iron. Still other irons have no regular structure, sometimes, indeed, being almost uniformly homogeneous. Such are classed as ataxites, an example of which is shown in the specimen from Deep Springs, North Carolina (No. 470). Cohenite is the name proposed by Weinschenk for an iron carbide of a tin-white color, found first in the meteorite of Magura and subsequently in other irons.
Oldhamite——This name was given by Story-Maskelyne, in 1862, to a calcium sulphide found by him in the meteorite of Busti, and de- scribed in detail in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London for 1870. The mineral is of a pale, chestnut- brown color when pure, though often covered on the outer surface by a gypseous oxidation product. It occurs in the form of rounded granules, with cleavages essentially rectangular, imbedded in the pyroxenic constituents. Between crossed nicols it is isotropic, and is considered to belong undoubtedly to the cubic, or isometric sys- tem. Its specific gravity was found to be 2.58. Boiled in water it was decomposed, yielding a bright yellow solution of calcium poly- sulphide and an insoluble residue.
Olivine —A magnesium and iron silicate of the formula (MgFe) SiO,; relative proportions of magnesia and iron are, however, some- what variable, as shown in the following analyses:
Locality. SiOz. MgO. FeO. 1. Krasnojarsk, Siberia...... 40. 24 47.41 11. 80 2. Kiowa County, Kansas....| 40.70 48. 02 10. 79 3. Brahiny HRussiasecesssescss|) KOoOL 48. 29 11. 88 4, Atacama, Chile........... 36. 92 43.16 17.21
The mineral rarely occurs in good crystal form except in the porphyritic chondrules. It is of all meteoric minerals perhaps the most abundant and widespread, sometimes, as in that of Warrenton, Missouri, composing a very large proportion (75 per cent) of the mass of thestone. It is rarely, if ever, wholly absent, even the iron meteor- ites showing in most cases included granules. It is a common and widespread constituent of terrestrial igneots rocks.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 11
Osbornite——This name is also one of Maskelyne’s proposal. The _mineral occurs in golden yellow microscopic octahedra, associated with the oldhamite in the Busti meteorite. Crystals are brittle and insoluble in acids, even resisting the fluxes potassium and sodium carbonates. Composition uncertain, but regarded as a titanium or zirconium oxychloride.
Pyroxenes.—Pyroxene is common in meteorites in both orthorhom- bic and monoclinic forms.
1. Orthorhombic pyroxenes: enstatite and bronzite. These min- erals, next to the olivines, are the most common of the meteoric sili- cate minerals. The composition is somewhat variable, owing to the varying proportions of iron and magnesia, as in the olivines. A typi- cal enstatite corresponds to the formula MgSiO,, but through the assumption of iron this passes over into the bronzite variety (MgFe) SiO,. So far as known, the highly ferriferous and pleochroic vari- ety, hypersthene, never occurs in meteorites, though in at least one instance—that of Shalka, India—the percentage of iron is fully as high as in strongly pleochroic hypersthene. The name clino-enstatite has been given to a monoclinic variety with a smaller extinction angle on clinopinacoidal sections than other monoclinic pyroxenes, and which is characterized further by a marked tendency toward polysyn- thetic twinning. The varying composition of enstatite and bronzite from some of the best known meteorites is given below:
Locality. SiO2 | MgO. | FeO. | NasO.| KsO. | CaO. | AlsOg. Bishopville!........... 59.97 | 39.34 ON AO} eeiereenn | Vaswrsciast| Scr cee actace's BUSG2aeee sane encase. 58.44 | 38.94 1.18 0. 36 0. 33 GSN sce eaees odhranSeeew ee. en== O0.j50"|( tae. So | La, WON ecne wok eines c= 58 | 0.60 Breitenbach 4.......... O05 T3085.) 133 44el oa eee sc Sys. ee ts aes Hiainholy 532.232. 5 sms. Sac 05) pi 2os 40 aos 6S ile cen. claret = 2.73 | 3.19 Hivittis 6: sse.eacceancec 59.05 | 37.10 90, 68 47 98 | 1.09 Goalpara ty. settee ek 59.92") 38.00! fares tee eee Dee Seer ee Molina shook. cate 57.8 39. 22 HOU ra eee ee ese ase ee 2.07 Sbalka9:- 25. ssbeecese 55.55 | 27.73 | 16.53 BOD meee BOO eo eee Rittersgrtin 0.......... 57.49 | 25.78 | 10.59 Dab loece ems 2.12 | 2.08
1Smith, J. L., Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 38, 1864, p. 225.
1 Maskelyne, Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, vol. 160, 1870, p. 206. 8 Tschermak, Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 61, 1870, p. 467. 4Maskelyne, Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, vol. 161, 1871, p. 359. 6 Rammelsberg, Monatsber. Akad. Berlin, 1870, p. 314.
6 Borgstr6m, Bull. Comm. geol. Finlande, No. 14, 1903.
7Teclu, Rammelsberg’s Mineralchemie, 1875, p. 382.
8 Meunier, Ann. Chem. Phys., vol. 17, 1869, p. 12.
9 Rammelsberg, Monatsber. Akad. Berlin, 1870, p. 319.
10 Winkler, Cohen’s Meteoritenkunde, Heft 1, 1894, p. 281.
As with olivine, the mineral rarely occurs in good crystal form, excepting in the porphyritic chrondrites. A more common form, as noted later, is in that of radiating and cryptocrystalline kugels.
12 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
9. Monoclinic pyroxenes: diopside and diallage. These forms of pyroxene are, on the whole, less common in meteorites than are the orthorhombic forms, though it is possible that they are in reality more abundant than is generally supposed, their close resemblance in all but optical properties (which, owing to the small size and poorly developed crystallization, can not always be determined) ren- dering a sure discrimination somewhat difficult. The composition is, presumably, fully as variable as that of the enstatites, but few actual analyses of pure materials have been made, owing to the difficulty in separating them from the associated minerals. Of the following analyses No. I is by Maskelyne’ and II by 'Tschermak.?
Source.
Constituents.
Silica (SiOe).........- Alumina i(AIsOs) =. oca\sse. ee. e ose Ferric oxide (Fe203). - Ferrous oxide (FeO). Magnesia (MgO) ..... ime (CAO)becete anes Soda (NagO).........
As with other silicate constituents, the monoclinic pyroxenes are but poorly developed crystallographically, are nearly colorless, non- pleochroic, and with extinction angles rarely going beyond 25°. They are often intergrown with enstatites, and still more commonly occur in twinned forms grouped in chondrules.
Schreibersite—This mineral, first described and named by Haidin- ger in 1847 as a constituent of the Magura iron, and since found as one of the commonest of the accessory meteoric constituents, is a phosphide of nickel, iron, and cobalt, corresponding to the formula (FeNiCo),P. It occurs commonly in thin angular plates of a tin- white color, sometimes lying parallel with the taenite-kamacite plates, sometimes in angular, jagged masses as in the Tombigbee iron (see specimen No. 252, also pl. 86), and in dendritic forms as in the iron of Arispe (see specimen No. 299 and pl. 33, fig. 2). In the pallasites it may occur in thin plates lying between the olivines and metallic mesh. It is magnetic, and difficultly soluble, the last feature rendering its separation from the other constituents a matter
1 Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, vol. 160, 1870, p. 202, 2Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 65, 1872, p. 126.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 13
of comparative ease. The material No. 475, separated from one of the Canon Diablo irons, is shown by Mr. Tassin’s analysis to have the following composition:
Per cent.
Ne ee ee 63. 04 BINT CR a alegelo SEAE e S S 23. OT IP HOSDI OE US =. 264 o = ge RE eee eed O e e 13. 80 CS Lysate ee SS SE et eee Se ee . 03 99. 94
The name rhabdite has been given to a very brittle phosphide of apparently the same composition as schreibersite and commonly regarded as a morphological variety of that mineral.
Troilite—This name was given by Haidinger* to a monosulphide of iron first found in nodular masses in the meteorite of Albareto, and since shown to be an almost universal constituent of meteorites, (See Toluca iron, No. 347 and pl. 14.) The theoretical composi- tion, as demanded by the formula FeS, is iron (Fe) 63.64; sulphur (S) 36.36. Actual analyses nearly always show traces of nickel and sometimes copper. The mineral was named in honor of Domenico Troili, one of the early enthusiastic defenders of the possibility of meteorite falls. Meunier and some others are inclined to regard the mineral as identical with pyrrhotite. Rose suggested the possibility that the sulphide in stony meteorites might be in the form of pyrrho- tite and in the metallic as troilite. The present writer, as well as Ramsay and Borgstrém, have, however, shown that the sulphide in’ the stony meteorites may be the monosulphide troilite.?
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION.
A meteorite is a body of more than immediate mineralogical or petrographical interest. It furnishes tangible testimony of the na- ture of materials existing outside of our solar system, and affords, aside from the spectroscope, the only clue to the matter of which celestial bodies are composed. The German, Chladni, as long ago as 1794, advocated their cosmic origin, and designated them “ Welt- spine” (world chips), or the remains of worlds gone to pieces, and from which other worlds might be built up. This idea with various modifications has been many times reasserted, and whatever theory one may accept as to world formation, the ultimate source of the materials remains the same. It is, therefore, of interest to compare the chemical composition of such materials as are now coming from space, or have come within historic times, with that forming the rocks of the earth’s crust. In column I below is given the average
1Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 47, 1863, p. 283.
2 Merrill, A recent meteorite fall near Holbrook, Ariz., Smithsonian Misc. Coll., publ. 2140, vol. 60, No. 9, 1912, p. 4.
14 — BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
composition of stony meteorites as calculated from a large number of analyses,’ and in column II that of the average composition of the igneous rocks of the earth’s crust.?
It may be added incidentally that these meteoric stones, as will be noted from the analyses, belong to a very basic class of rocks—i. e., rocks low in silicic acid and correspondingly high in the basic con- stituents, iron and magnesia. From a terrestrial standpoint they would be classified mainly as peridotites, and a few as pyroxenites and basalts.
Constituents.
Silica (Si02)
Titanic oxide (TiO2) Tin oxide (SnO) Zirconium oxide (ZrOz2) Alumina (Al,03)
Ferric oxide (Fe203) Chromic oxide (Cr2O3) Vanadium oxide (V203) Tron (Fe)
Nickel (Ni)
Cobalt (Co)
Ferrous oxide (FeO) Nickel oxide (NiO) Cobalt oxide (CoO) Lime (CaO)
Barium oxide (BaO) Magnesia (MgO) Manganous oxide (MnO) Strontium oxide (SrO) Soda (Na.0)
Potash (K20)
Lithia (Li,0)
Tgnition (H20) Phosphoric acid (P205) Sulphur (S)
Copper (Cu)
Carbon (C)
Chlorine (Cl)
Fluorine (F)
Carbonic acid (CO2)
The most striking of the differences brought out by the analyses are (1) the excess of silica (SiO,) and alumina (A1,O,) in the terrestrial rocks, (2) the presence of a considerable amount of free iron and proportionately large quantities of ferrous oxide (FeO)
1 Merrill, On the composition of stony meteorites, etc., Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 27, June, 1909, p. 469. 2 Clarke, Data of Geochemistry, Bulletin 491, U. S. Geol. Surv., 1911, p. 27.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 15
and magnesia (MgO) in the meteorites. The presence of many of the rarer elements tabulated as constituents of the terrestrial igneous rocks has not as yet been fully determined in those of meteoric origin. As has been noted, however, many of them have been found in amounts too small to estimate.
As already stated, the iron or metallic meteorites consist essentially of alloys of iron, nickel, and cobalt, with which are commonly asso- ciated the phosphide schreibersite and the sulphide troilite. In mi- nute quantities there may be other constituents, as copper, chromium, and various silicate minerals. It is in these metallic forms also that have been found the rarer elements—platinum, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, and vanadium, and possibly gold. Farrington’s tabula- tion of analyses seems to show that the nickel content varies with the texture, the higher percentages of this constituent being found in those of finest crystallization. The variation is, however, by no means con- stant. In the table on the following page is given a selected series of what are considered authentic analyses of the principal types of iron, and also, for purposes of comparison, two examples each of metal separated from the silicates portions of pallasites and stony meteorites.
16
BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
“eqlIp seis aise retell! 2: O02 See gee oo eR 96 °8 FP 06 -uoyo snoeovmoqieg |*---~ ~*~ qorepuy ‘e0vly, 20°0 #00 20¢ °0 L0G °6 0L°68 | “eMApMOqoo!TNIeydg |-*--**~ “ost
80°0
‘SALINOALAW ANOLS NOU TVLAN
Deu enies | 20 Wa veeelecereeeees|eeeeeeeeee! comonr | couonr | ego" ‘ouon «=| (09° 296 06368 9 |"* tse ereeeesessson-"<""|->°<geefousEry ‘cowry eA | $'0 | ‘seovrz, | o0g'0 | soso | isto |ssco | ose | Or'0 | 6F6°O | FFO'FT | eg'%g |o*rotToree ess oRSETTe |*“UOMIEA JUNOW
.
‘BatisvTivd AOU TWLan
“Op ULO ITD 1 a EET IEEE *s9081} my pure “sy “ed “Id | 910° eee Sere leant on ape SEO “OUON z00° Gos * 20° crg* 996 GUS6S | aes cee te cee samme O Dineuaaa eco OTP AAMIOLT ‘e0vl} (4) ug fseovr] ‘ay pte “4q | 920° oh eke eat pater eee Nat LOY “OBIT, 10° GGG * c0° £0 'T £3 “ST G9G "SS |“ -OFLIPET|VIOO JSouLT |" """"""" BIMOH g0° Apri | POU RUE S ughtl Noes Be c0° £0° 60° os° L6°L 48°16 = [°° " *- -O§ttpeteqoo our |" *"---AUCyIOg 10° c0° TONOS Ss alerse car tal ee soa |s COO or" c0° 86° OF 6 POOR RS Eee OD sou eee OT OMS UL £0° c0'0 SOUON a9) 5 set ae Sasa se eee “‘e0RL, Go" ZO° e9° 10's TST6 pe ccs ees an O Dice | Goto 1 DUISMOry: LLT° “OCI, “OU0N 10° “OUON 660 * 99T * 610 ‘0 ‘709° GF “L LF°06 =|" 8} Ipey’eyoo UNI pey |~ sepuviy) sesep “80081} “IT pus “4g | SOF ‘0 260 °O citemoaammed GOO 0 “OUON 80° 6ST * “‘9OBLT, T¢° See 'L Gcr°e6 | OJIIpPETByOO EsIBOH |“ OTqeId WouBH 7800) '8Od TORE Se oraae| SOOL Oe mela oh pacts aieener eter |) COSO £% ‘0 #0 °0 99°0 89°¢ 69 26a eae ““ O}IpeyexeH | °°” *JOATY XOH “OSTA, ‘D 10 “IO ‘TS ‘un ‘8 “d “nO ‘09 “IN “Od “Ss8ID “OuIBN
‘SNOULI OIMOALAN
BULLETIN 94 PL. 2
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
JUVINAS AND (2) SHERGOTTY STONES.
)
(1
MICROSTRUCTURE OF
NS SEE PAGE 17.
FOR DESCRIPTIO
BULLETIN 94 PL. 3
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
ESTHERVILLE MESOSIDERITE.
)
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGES 17 AND 18,
MICROSTRUCTURE OF (1) EL NAKHLA STONE AND (2
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. Ei
STRUCTURE.
As noted under the head of Classification, meteorites fall into three general groups: (1) Metallic, in which the structure is due to the varying crystallization of metallic alloys; (2) the stony-irons or siderolites, which consist of a more or less connected mesh or sponge of metal inclosing silicates, the structure of the metallic portion being essentially the same as those which are all metallic; and (3) the stony forms, which vary from holocrystalline or basaltic types to those which are fragmental and tufaceous. It is in this last group, and with particular reference to their included chondrules, that meteorites depart most widely from known structures in terrestrial rocks.
The crystalline structure of the purely metallic forms has been sufficiently dwelt upon under the head of the Metallic constituents of meteorites, and may be best comprehended by referring to Plates 12, 14, and 16. That of the stony-irons is shown in Plates 9 and 28. It is to be noted that there are two widely distinct types of the latter, one in which the included silicates have apparently undergone quiet crystallization even to the extent of development of recognizable crys- talline facets, and the other in which the silicates, after crystallization, have become shattered and in which the metal serves as a cement or binding constituent to the angular particles. This type of structure or brecciation is well shown in the Admire pallasite (pl. 9, fig. 2), in which the dark portions are olivine and the light metal. This figure is about natural size. An enlarged portion of a metalliferous area is shown in figure 1 of the same plate. In this the dark outer portion is again olivine and the light (1) metal. The dark interior area (3) is a spongy aggregate of iron with inclosures of lawrencite and troilite. The acicular forms (4) extending into this sponge are of nickel iron. Between the nickel iron (1) and the spongy portion is commonly a thin plate of schreibersite (2) which can not be differentiated in the illustration.
The microscopic structure of stony meteorites of the holocrystal- line type most nearly resembling terrestrial rocks of the basalt, pyrox- enite, or peridotite group is shown in Plates 2 and 3. In the eukrite of Juvinas (pl. 2, fig. 1) will be noted the elongated or plagioclase feldspars in a crystalline granular ground of olivines and pyroxenes, as in the gabbros, with metal in the interstices. In figure 2, from the stone of Shergotty, the structure is more nearly that of a diabase or basalt, consisting of large plates of pyroxene in a light ground, which, in this case, is isotropic, the so-called maskelynite, supposed to be a fused feldspar. In figure 1 of Plate 3 is shown the structure of the recently fallen stone of El Nakhla. This consists of a crystalline aggregate of green pyroxene and in small quantities a reddish-brown
5692°—Bull. 94—16——2
18 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
olivine with a little interstitial feldspar, and scattering granules of titanic iron and chromite. The structure is comparable with that of a terrestrial pyroxenite. In figure 2 is shown that of the holocrystal- line siliceous portion of the mesosiderite of Estherville, Iowa, con- sisting of olivine, orthorhombic and monoclinic pyroxene, and a pla- gioclase feldspar. i
A very large portion of the stony meteorites consists wholly or in part of rounded and oval granules called chondrules, embedded in a crystalline or tuffaceous ground, and it is in these forms, both in relation to structure of the spherules themselves and the ground in which they are embedded, that interest chiefly centers. (See pls. 4, 5, and 6.) Figure 1 of Plate 4 shows the structure of a crystalline chondrite from Estacado, Texas. This, as will be observed, consists of the rounded and irregular chondrules embedded in a crystalline ground. Figure 2 of this same plate shows a tuffaceous form from Selma, Alabama, a stone consisting of chondrules in all degrees of preservation down to mere fragments embedded in a tufaceous ground.
The individual chondrules occur in a surprising number of forms. Borgstrém and Ramsay enumerate 19 types of composition and struc- ture in the stone of Bjurbdéle, and it is a safe assumption that this large number could be recognized in others should a sufficiently de- tailed study be made. In shape they vary from almost perfect spheres (pl. 5, fig. 1), often with a slight indentation on one side, through oval and elongated, rarely angular (unless fragmental), forms. Internally they may be of glass, crypto- or holo-crystalline, with a radiate, barred, or grate-like structure, of single or many individuals imbedded in a glassy or fibrous base. Occasionally they show a border of later formed crystals as in figure 5 of Plate 5. In some instances chondrules in a more or less perfect condition make up almost the entire mass of the stone as in the case of that of Allegan, Michigan, or Selma, Alabama (pl. 4, fig. 2). Or, again, they may be few and scattered throughout a erystalline ground, as in the case of the stone of Estacado, Texas (pl. 4, fig. 1). They may be so loosely attached as to fall away when the stone is broken, or so firmly imbedded as to break with it. Olivine (or forsterite) and pyroxene, either enstatite or a monoclinic form, are the more common constituents, more rarely feldspars. A border of nickel-iron or iron sulphide about a chondrule is not uncommon, the metal sometimes penetrating more or less into the interior (pl. 6, fig. 1).
Origin of the chondritic structure—H. C. Sorby, writing in 1877, advanced the idea that the individual chondrules were originally de- tached molten drops like fiery rain and their internal crystalline or amorphous condition due to conditions of cooling. Reichenbach, as
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 4
MICROSTRUCTURE OF (1) ESTACADO AND (2) SELMA STONES.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGE 18,
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 5
mre)
MICROSTRUCTURE OF (1) ENSTATITE CHONDRULE IN ELM CREEK STONE, (2) ENSTATITE CHONDRULE IN HENDERSONVILLE STONE, (3) ENSTATITE CHONDRULE IN COON BUTTE STONE, (4) ENSTATITE CHONDRULE IN TENNASILM STONE, (5) BARRED OLIVINE CHON- DRULE IN BEAVER CREEK STONE.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGE 18.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 19
quoted by Lockyer, believed each chondrule to have been an “ inde- pendent crystallized individual,” a stranger in its host, and imbedded like a shell in limestone. Tschermak compared the chondrules to the spherulitic forms occurring in the trachytic tuffs of Freudenthal, and more especially to the olivine spherules of Kapfenstein and Feldbode in Styria. These tuffs he thought to be due to trituration in the vol- canic throat. Writing with especial reference to the Gopalpur stone, he argued that it must be considered to have been a cooled mass, which through friction was broken into powder, the more tenacious particles remaining as kugels which were again gathered into a loose aggregate. Reusch also considered the chondrules as developed in the Tysnes meteorite due largely to attrition of consolidated particles, though perhaps modified to some extent by the corrosive action of the iron. He would account for the structure of the bronzite kugels, in which the radial point lies without the periphery, by assuming that origi- nally they all had a like conical form such as is common in radiating nodular pyrite, the upper surface of the nodule forming the base of the cone. When such were worn down by attrition the point would naturally break away. Berwerth has also arrived at the conclusion that the chondritic meteorites originate through the partial refusion of meteoric tuffs. Brezina, and after him, Wadsworth, seem to have considered the structure of meteorites in general, and incidentally that of the chondrules, as due to hasty crystallization, a conclusion which so far as it relates to certain types seems well founded. Still other suggestions have been offered, as through condensation of vapor, or the refusion of original garnets. Concerning the last, it may be said that it merits no serious consideration. The views of the present writer were presented in detail in his description of the stone of Allegan, Michigan, in 1900, and it will be sufficient to repeat here the substance of the matter there given.
The general structure of stones of the Allegan type can be ac- counted for only by regarding them as agglomerates of chondrules imbedded in a fragmental groundmass or matrix, the materials for which were derived from the trituration of other chondrules. One fact which has always militated against a theory which would ac- count for the peculiar structure of a meteorite of this type, on the assumption of hasty crystallization, has been the absence of a glassy base in any but the chondritic portions. Obviously if the stone were a product of crystallization, in mass, the chondrules would be prod- ucts of the earliest consolidation, and should, judged by the standard of terrestrial petrography, be the most highly crystalline, while the base in which they are imbedded might be glassy or crystalline, ac- cording to conditions. As a matter of fact, the reverse is the case, the chondrules being more or less glassy, or at least imperfectly crystallized, as in the barred and fan-shaped forms, while the ground-
20 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
mass of the stone is of crystalline particles and of particles of the chondrules themselves.
That certain conditions of crystallization would give rise to spher- ulitic forms of the enstatite is undoubted. The subject of their development in liparite has been worked out by Cross and Iddings,* and while it is easy to conceive of the abrupt transition from a wholly or partly crystalline spherule to a glassy base, as sometimes seen in the spherulites of obsidian, it will, in the present state of knowledge, puzzle any petrographer to account for an equally sharp transition from a glassy spherule (chondrule) to a base composed wholly of crystalline particles, as shown in many meteorites. Even could one account for such anomalies of crystallization as these, the presence of plainly fragmental chondrules—chondrules which were fragments at the time of the final consolidation of the stone—would still re- main to be explained. That many of the chondrules in this stone were the results of earlier fracturing is shown conclusively by the dull and abraded character of the fractured surface. With reference to the porphyritic forms in the glassy and fibrous ground, shown by some of the chondrules, one can assume that after the phenocrysts had become secreted the magma was resolved into spherical drops which cooled too rapidly for further crystallization, while in the radiated forms crystallization may have taken place in some cases prior to the assumption of the globular form, and in some subsequent thereto. Such forms lend support to the theory of Sorby, already quoted. It is possible to conceive that these, first as blebs of molten matter and then as consolidated particles, may have been triturated in the deep throat of some volcano. The spherical form, however, is not regarded by the present writer as due to trituration like volcanic lapilli, but rather to a previous molten condition. While it may be possible to account for the present condition of the chondritic meteor- ites, as regards degree of consolidation, on the theory that they are tuffs more or less metamorphosed by high temperatures, the chon- drules can not themselves be thus accounted for, since a heat sufficient to render crystalline the pisolites in a tuff, as argued by some, would certainly produce a more marked degree of metamorphism in the sur- rounding matrix. There is apparently no escape from the idea that so far as the spherical chondrules are concerned, they are independ- ently formed, though, it may be, greatly corroded and mechanically abraded prior to their ingathering into the stony masses coming to earth from space. That many of the external forms now presented are due to mechanical causes is self-apparent, and it is possible that not all have a common origin.
Other structural features—The position occupied by the metallic constituent in a stony meteorite or pallasite is such as to indicate
1 Bull. Philos. Soc. Washington, vol. 11, 1891,
BUEEERIN 945 PEG
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
AND (3) PARNALLEE
CHONDRITIC STRUCTURES IN (1 AND 4) CULLISON, (2) TENNASILM
STONES.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGE 18.
ay, ey
: ee ie ;
>”
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 7
MICROSTRUCTURE OF (1) BLACK CRUST ON ALLEGAN STONE AND (2) OF BLACK VEIN IN BLUFF STONE.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGE 21,
g
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 21
plainly its secondary origin or introduction after the consolidation of all other constituents except the sulphides. While its melting point (about 1,500° C. or 2,732° F.) is somewhat lower than that of the as- sociated silicates, the manner in which it frequently penetrates the fractures of these constituents (see Admire pallasite) is so strikingly like that of the native copper in the siliceous breccia of the Lake Superior region as to suggest that it results not from a condition of dry fusion, but rather from the reduction of some easily reducible iron-rich compound like lawrencite. Such a reduction, as noted by Nordenskiold? and others, must have taken place outside of our at- mosphere and in an atmosphere deficient in oxygen. It may be noted, incidentally, that the average amount of metallic iron in stony me- teorites, as shown by Merrill, is 11.98 per cent, which is equivalent to 16.55 per cent of magnetite or 27.16 per cent of purely ferrous lawrencite.
The black crust coating the surface of the stony meteorites is, as already noted, a more or less perfect glass, due to the fusion of the various constituents from the heat generated during the passage of the stone through the atmosphere. This, as shown in thin section (see pl. 7, fig. 1), is rarely of more than a few millimeters in thickness. It consists, as in the case of the Allegan stone figured, of a “black glass interspersed with numerous residuary particles of unfused silicates, which passes down gradually into the unaltered granular stone. Sections of the thick blebby glass from the lower surface show air vesicles and numerous crystallites imperfectly se- creted from the glassy base, and too small to be seen in the figure, together with the residuary unfused particles of the original min- erals.”
Many of the stony meteorites are traversed by small, black, thread- like veins, which are plainly due to a fracturing of the stone prior to its entrance into our atmosphere. A greatly enlarged section of one of these from the Bluff, Fayette County, Texas, meteorite is shown in figure 2, Plate 7. The filling material of the vein is of a nearly coal black color, opaque, and of an undetermined nature, while the white and gray particles are fragments of the minerals composing the body of the stone. Occasionally a slight movement between the walls of these veins has developed a structure known as slickensides in terrestrial rocks. In the illustration shown no such movement has taken place, and it will be noted that the black vein material penetrates into the walls in the form of small veinlets on either hand.
One other feature which may be mentioned is the occurrence of a colorless, limpid, interstitial mineral, nearly or quite isotropic, which forms one of the principal constituents of the meteorite of Shergotty,
1 Zeits. d. D. geol. Ges., 1881, p. 25.
oo BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
but quite common in small, microscopic quantities in other stones. This has been regarded by Tschermak as a fused feldspar, though others have considered it a distinct mineral species allied to leucite. The index of refraction supports the view of Tschermak. It occurs filling interstices, without form of its own, and is apparently one of the last, if not the last, constituent to assume a solid condition.
It has been shown by Messrs. Allen and others? of the Geophysical Laboratory, that an orthorhombic pyroxene, like enstatite, may be transformed into a monoclinic form by heating to a high temperature, and, further, that the parallel growths of the two varieties, so char- acteristic of meteorites, can be reproduced by rapidly cooling a molten mass of pure magnesian silicate. The more rapid the cooling the greater the preponderance of the monoclinic form. It seems prob- able that further study of the association of the two, as seen in thin sections, will lead to interesting and important developments in the preterrestrial history of meteoric stones.
EARLY RECORDS AND OPINIONS REGARDING METEORITE FALLS.
There was at first, and very naturally, a great deal of scepticism shown by both the popular and scientific minds regarding the pos- sibilities of stones falling from space. So great was this scepticism that, as stated by Chladni in his celebrated work published in 1819, *the examples preserved in public museums were hidden or discarded, the custodians fearing to make laughing-stock of themselves through acqwescing in the possibility of their extra-terrestrial origin. In the few early recorded cases where meteorites were seen to fall and re- covered, they were regarded as objects of reverence and worship. A stone which fell in ancient Phrygia in Asia Minor about 200 years before Christ was worshiped as Cybele, the mother of the gods. An- other, of which the history goes back to the seventh century, is still preserved at Mecca where it is built into the northeast corner of the Karaba and revered as one of the holiest of holy relics. The great Casas Grandes iron (pl. 15), in the national collections at Wash- ington, was found in an ancient Mexican ruin swathed with mummy cloths in a manner to indicate that it was held in more than ordinary veneration by the prehistoric inhabitants. Meteoric iron has been found also upon a brick altar in prehistoric ruins in Ohio, and it is on record that a stone weighing about a pound, which fell in East Africa in 1853, was secured by the natives, anointed with oil, clothed, decorated, and finally installed in a specially prepared temple.
The earliest known undoubted meteorites still preserved are those of Elbogen, Bohemia, and Ensisheim, Upper Alsace, Germany, the first mentioned an iron, the second a stone. The iron was found some-
1 Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 22, 1906, pp. 385-4388.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 23
where about the year 1400 of our era, but its meteoric nature seems not to have been fully established until 1812. It has, however, for several hundred years been preserved in the Rathhaus at Elbogen. The Ensis- heim stone was seen to fall on November 16, 1492, between the hours of 11 and 12 in the forenoon, the fall being accompanied with a loud crash like thunder, heard for a great distance. On striking the ground the stone buried itself to a depth of some 5 feet. When ex- humed, it weighed 260 pounds, the portion now remaining weighing some 155 pounds. (See No. 506.)
Occurrences so well authenticated as the last would, it seems, have gone a long way toward convincing the scientific world, at least, but such was not the case, and as late as 1772, a committee, one of whom was the celebrated chemist, Lavoisier, presented to the French Acad- emy a report on the examination of a stone seen to fall at Lucé, four years previously. In this they took the ground that the supposed sky stone was but an ordinary terrestrial rock that had been struck by lightning.
In 1794, E. F. F. Chladni, a German scientist, brought together all available accounts of the supposed meteorites, calling the attention of the scientific world to the fact that several masses of iron had in all probability come to our earth from outer space. He referred espe- cially to the now well-known Pallas iron, which was found by a Cos- sack in 1749, among schistose rock, and in the highest part of a lofty mountain near Krasnojarsk in Siberia. It was regarded by the na- tive Tartars as a holy thing fallen from heaven, which fact would cer- tainly seem to indicate that it was seen to fall. Chladni argued that this iron could have been formed only under the influence of fire. The absence in the vicinity of scoriz, the ductility of the iron, the hard and pitted surfaces, and the regular distribution of the included olivine, to his mind precluded the idea that it could have been formed where found, or by man, electricity, or an accidental conflagration. Hence, he inferred that it had been projected from a distance, and, as there were no volcanoes known to eject iron and as, moreover, there were no volcanoes in the vicinity, he was compelled to look for an ex- traneous source, and to regard it as actually having fallen from the sky. Incidentally, he argued, the flight of such a body through the atmosphere would give rise to all the phenomena of the fireball or shooting star.
It was, as has been remarked, as if to direct attention to Chladni’s work that there occurred during this same year an observed shower of meteoric stones near Siena, Italy. In December of the following year also a 56-pound stone fell out of a clear sky almost at the feet of a laborer near Wold Cottage in Yorkshire, England, and again in 1798, under similar conditions, many stones fell at Krakhut, near Benares, in India.
24 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
The scientific mind was, however, slow in accepting these proofs. Fortunately there occurred about this time (April, 1803) a shower of stones, upward of 3,000 in number, in the neighborhood of L’Aigle near Paris. The circumstances of this fall were fully investigated under the auspices of the French Academy of Sciences, the report of which was of so conclusive a nature as forever to set at rest all doubts concerning their extra-terrestrial origin.
PHENOMENA OF FALL.
The fall of a meteorite is usually accompanied by noises vari- ously described as resembling the fire of musketry, cannonading, or even thunder. If the fall takes place during periods of dark- ness it is also accompanied by a flash of light and followed by a luminous rocket-like trail. These phenomena are due to the rapid passage of the objects through the air, and the consequent rise in temperature which is sufficient to produce fusion of the outer surface and even ignition, thus giving rise to the thin, dark, glass- like crust which is found coating all stony meteorites. The time of passage through the atmosphere is, however, too short to permit the heat to penetrate to great depths, and nearly all meteorites are quite cool, or scarcely warm, on reaching the surface of the ground. It is to the sudden rise in temperature and pressure of the atmosphere, too, that is due the breaking up of a meteorite and its reaching the earth as a shower of fragments rather than a single individual.
We have little to guide us in estimating the speed at which a me- teorite reaches the earth and its consequent power of penetration. The velocities as given by various observers vary between 2 and 45 miles a second. These last, however, are the initial velocities, the velocities possessed by the meteors on entering our atmosphere and while still at considerable altitudes—in some instances 50 or 60 miles—and which become very materially reduced by atmospheric friction long before reaching the earth. Indeed, from the calcula- tions of Schiaparelli and others, it is commonly assumed that a meteorite reaches the surface at the speed of an ordinary falling body. A. Herschell, as quoted by Flight,’ calculated the velocity of the Yorkshire (England) meteorite at the time it reached the ground as but 412 feet a second. The Guernsey (Ohio) meteorite was esti- mated by Prof. E. W. Evans? to have reached the earth while travel- ing at a speed of 3 or 4 miles a second; that of Weston, Connecticut, while at a height of some 18 miles, was estimated by Prof. Bow- ditch® to have a velocity of 3 miles a second. Newton‘ calculated
1A Chapter on the History of Meteorites, 1887, p. 219. 2 Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 32, 1861, p. 30. ;
83Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., vol. 3, 1815, p. 213. Amer. Jour. Sci., vol. 33, 1862, p. 338.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 25
the speed of the fireballs which passed over the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys in August, 1860, at 30 to 35 miles a second, and stated * that the Stannern, Moravia, stone came into our atmosphere with a ve- locity of 45 miles a second. These higher velocities are, doubtless, those of bodies pursuing a retrograde course about the sun.
The evidence afforded by actual falls and impacts is extremely contradictory. Nordenskiold states that, in the case of the Hessle fall, stones so friable as to be readily broken if simply thrown against a hard surface were not broken or even scarred on striking the frozen ground. Stones weighing several pounds which struck on ice a few inches in thickness rebounded without breaking the ice or being themselves broken. The 70-pound stone that fell at Alle- gan, Michigan, in 1899, penetrated the sandy soil to a depth of about 18 inches and was itself considerably shattered. Like that of Hessle, this was an unusually friable stone. It is evident that its speed did not exceed that of a projectile from an old-time piece of heavy ord- nance. The 260-pound stone that fell at Ensisheim, Germany, in 1492, is reported to have buried itself to a depth of 5 feet.
The greatest depth of penetration of a meteoric stone which has come under the writer’s observation is that of Knyahinya, Hungary, as described by Haidinger. In this instance a 660-pound stone, striking the ground at an angle of some 27° from the vertical, pene- trated to a depth of 11 feet. The hole was nearly circular in outline, and fragments from the interior were thrown back and scattered to a distance of some 180 feet (dreiszig Klafter). The stone was found broken in three pieces, and the earth beneath it compacted to stony hardness.
On the other hand, still heavier masses have been found under such conditions as to lead one to infer they scarcely buried them- selves. Peary’s giant Cape York iron, weighing 374 tons, was found only partially covered; but, as it lay on a bed of gneissic bowlders, this is not strange. It should be remarked, however, that an exami- nation of the iron reveals no such abrasions of surface as might be expected had it fallen with a speed of miles per second, or, indeed, any abrasions whatever that can be ascribed to such a cause. It is, of course, possible that this fall took place when the ground was deeply covered with ice and snow, and its speed was thus checked before coming in contact with the stony matter.’
The Willamette iron, weighing 15.6 tons, seemingly lay without question as it originally fell, and in a region of no appreciable ero- sion—rather, one of organic deposition, for it was found lying in a
1 Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 36, 1888, p. 11.
2It is stated that lead bullets from a modern rifle may be completely checked in
traversing a few feet of light snow. and this, too, without the slightest appreciable deformation or surface abrasion.
26 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
primeval forest; yet the mass was not deeply buried, a small project- ing portion leading to its discovery.
The Bacubirito iron, weighing at a rough estimate 20 tons, lay in a soft soil, with its surface but little below the general surface of the field around it.
It is a noteworthy fact that the members of different meteor showers exhibit visible features which in certain cases are quite dissimilar. This arises from the circumstance that the various showers encounter the earth at different angles, and their apparent speed depends in a great measure upon this. Thus the meteors of November 13 (Leonids) are moving in a direction opposite to the earth; hence their velocity is very great, being about 44 miles per second. But the meteors of November 27 (Andromedes) are moving in nearly the same direc- tion as the earth, and hence have to overtake us, so that they apparently move very slowly, their speed being only 11 miles per second. The Leonids above referred to, together with the Perseids of August 10 and the Orionids of Octo- ber 18-20, are good examples of the swift-moving meteors, and they are almost invariably accompanied by phosphorescent streaks. The slow meteors, of which the Andromedes are a type, throw off trains of yellowish sparks.’
In conclusion, the result of the investigation may be said to have created a strong presumption in favor of the following general deductions:
(a) That the velocities of meteorites are materially changed by the resist- ance of the atmosphere, and, in general, by a fractional part of the velocity which is independent of the velocity of approach.
(b) That the superior limit for incandescence is probably about 150 miles above the earth’s surface.
(c) That no iron meteor the original weight of which was less than 10 to 20 pounds reaches the earth’s surface, and that when a meteor does so the tem- perature of its center is not in general above that of liquid air (assuming the temperature of space to be zero) .”
All statements relative to the temperature of meteorites imme- diately after reaching the ground must be accepted guardedly owing to their extremely contradictory character. According to Haidinger, some stones which fell in Styria in 1859 continued in a state of incan- descence for from five to eight seconds, and for a quarter of an hour were too hot to be handled without burning. Beinert, in his account of the Braunau iron, states that for six hours it also remained too hot to be handled. On the other hand, the Dhurmsala stone is stated to have been intensely cold when picked up immediately after falling.
The reports of the setting of fires by the falling of meteorites must also be taken with the same degree of allowance. In the cases of both the Allegan and Winnebago falls the stones struck on the dried grass, which, though pressed closely against the surfaces, was not charred in the least. Indeed, one of the Winnebago stones fell on a stack of dry straw, but without igniting it.
1 Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy, by George F. Chambers, Sun, Planets, Comets, ed. 4, vol 1, p. 635, 2H. E. Wimperis, Nature (London, Eng.), vol. 71, 1904, p. 82.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 27
Naturally the possibility of human beings and animals being struck by these falling bodies has been discussed, and several instances dat- ing. back to periods from 1511 to 1674 are mentioned in which per- sons were killed. It must be confessed that the absence of any re- corded instances of this sort within more recent times, when the subject could be discussed more calmly, renders the occurrences open to question.
NUMBER OF FALLS AND WEIGHTS.
Upward of 650 falls and finds of meteorites have been reported, representatives of which have found their way into museums and private collections, and there preserved for study and investigation. These, however, constitute a very small fraction of those which actually fall and are never recovered, since it is estimated that up- ward of 20,000,000 strike the earth daily. These are for the most part very small, perhaps scarcely more than a grain in weight. It is interesting as well as singular that of all that have been seen to fall and have been recovered but nine are of iron. The largest known meteoric mass is that brought by Commander Peary from Cape York, Greenland. This weighed 73,000 pounds. The next largest lies in the plain near Bacubirito in Mexico, and has been estimated to weigh some 50,000 pounds, while the third is that of Willamette, Oregon, weighing 31,107 pounds. These are all iron meteorites. The largest known individual aerolite or meteoric stone is that of Knyahinya, Hungary, weighing some 550 pounds, now in the Vienna National Museum.’
It may be added, in conclusion, that all known meteorites are of an igneous nature and have yielded no traces of animal or vegetable life, although the peculiar radiating and grate-like structures of the chondrules were at one time mistaken for organic remains.?
1The Estacado, Texas, stone is stated to have weighed nearly 640 pounds when found,
but it has since been cut up. 20. Hahn, Die Meteorite (Chondrite) und ihre Organismen, Tiibingen, 1880,
pees tied act. Bee: Th
i ry ys
oo ee nae Seo artthy tae UR Ba, gee! a ad a i @i2F DomMRLoveds Se at Ea here gh) Haya tis Agg t teh
ic} lygeke Gait iG. as taht Tob hae
tos es Hebe ay ay Se) OA ne ees. oe “ill, MONE See! en ayeene Gila WAS Sealer Reriya tren aie
ths tae one ANG a) PR “ee ae 7
peo tus th \ pRreee Le $ ae ary liaise Sided) nn sated + oe AO tS iki apne Tine that # eM tase ~ < La far < : 3 yeti rshe fia LES pA an Sits es aches in \
Tre
” HA) ier eainy
4
Rad
Ae ae ee y VEE, om Fe
SY, iat Bakes
te He re
au
> 5
ae
ra eentaris 3 si wette: 6)
os +i ak Re se oF. a.
% baa) ce
ey if “ar Te mE
:¥ Wi ies ace vf ‘ my sna Ne ase eee or es oi i 4 a tubes "a peeginy AD ent | a Ay: ig Beate PEE ate : ae? oe Fact Gres Pea H daar y eG ite! hn) ali tay Rape Hii hw ; br BY ust | ; ee - ney toe idy Ai, ae : Rg Pore 3 i si if «At eget fot | Gah Hearse Sigs aii | sae se am lt al ifr Tite A Res | z. 7 € ; ; : |
: ans hae $ a ea tate it <n ~ a : a i rahe 7 4 2 MPs i OO tare ae ; ia SAP. 2? eae . pe « bd . Weal fe igen ie hi aee ae a < 7 ei ¥ - 4 iY ghts F457 i ae *. , Rs OP ok Ora; he a & A ' uy eet a 4 Waa : 4 —_ a , 2 } , 7 Ls f ’
PARLE.
DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE, - A. MUSEUM COLLECTION.
INTRODUCTORY SERIES.
Series illustrative of three principal types of meteorites:
Meteoric stone: Aerolite. Forest City, Iowa, Cat. No. 167.
Meteoric stony-iron: Pallasite. Ilimae, Chile, South America, Cat. No. 383.
Meteoric iron: Siderite. Toluca, Mexico, Cat. No. 347.
Series illustrating mineral composition and structure:
Graphite, out of Canon Diablo siderite, Cat. No. 476.
Schreibersite, out of Canon Diablo siderite, Cat. No. 475.
Diamonds, out of Canon Diablo siderite, Cat. No. 473.
Nodule of amorphous carbon in Canon Diablo siderite, Cat. No. 512.
Troilite, in Toluca siderite, Cat. No. 347.
One-half of nodule of troilite out of Canon Diablo siderite, Cat. No. 514.
Widmanstitten figures, cube of Casas Grandes siderite, No. 369.
Neumann lines, Scottsville, Allen County, Kentucky, siderite, No. 77.
Chondrules, out of Allegan, Michigan, aerolite, Cat. No. 515.
_Crust, due to fusion by heat in passage through the atmos-
phere, Forest City, Iowa, Cat. No. 167.
ABERT IRON. (Loality uncertain, probably Toluca, Mexico.) No, 16,
Tron, Om. Section of mass weighing 150 grams. One face etched, showing coarse Widmanstitten figures. The original mass, weighing 466 grams, was found without label in the collection of the late Col. J. J. Abert. The structure and composition agree so completely with the Toluca irons that it seems best to so consider it, at least pro- visionally, rather than catalogue as an unknown as is usually done. At the time Colonel Abert was making his collection the Toluca irons were among the most common, and therefore most likely to find a place in mineral collections where a representative native iron was desired.
29
30 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
ADMIRE, LYON COUNTY, KANSAS. Nos. 248, 249, 257, 258, 364, 381.
Stony-iron, Pallasite (Réckiky group of Brezina). Mass weighing 3,220 grams (original weight 5,460 grams); mass weighing 2,048 grams, cut in halves and polished; two complete individuals weighing 1,450 and 1,550 grams, oxidized; polished section showing brecciated structure, weighing 203 grams; mass weighing 6,725 grams, now dis- integrated and preserved in petroleum distillate. A mass is known which weighed upward of 7,000 grams, making the weight of all that has thus far been found about 24,436 grams, and it is a safe assump- tion that upward of 30,000 grams must have at one time been in exist- ence. A considerable portion of these have fallen to pieces through the oxidation of the included lawrencite and become destroyed. The polished slices in this collection have been preserved by immersion in a petroleum distillate. Mineral composition: olivine with metallic iron, scheibersite, troilite, lawrencite, and,chromite. The structure is that of a siliceous breccia with a metallic cement. (See pls. 8 and 9.)
Composition of the metallic portion, as shown by Wirt Tassin’s analyses:
Per cent. Tron VCH e) aha eh Rt Ue Pe ae ee ie ae eee ee 93. 00 NICKELS CNG) te ea ee ee eS ee eee 6. 00 Cobalt! (Co) 222228 2 ee ee ee ee ee . 02 Sulphur: (S) 22.) 223s . 03 Phosphorus’. (2) 2 ee 225 Copper: (Ca) 2595222 ee oa ee Traces 99. 30 This corresponds to: Per cent. INiGkeliron 228 So ees oe ee eee 98. 273 Schreibersite 2 20 2 ee ee ee ee 1. 645 Troilite, eSB I ee ee eee, . 082 100. 00
The meteorite is the third of its class thus far known. Nothing is definitely known regarding its fall, the material having been dis- covered by a Mr. W. Davis while plowing, and attention called to it on account of its unusual appearance, which was wholly unlike any of the local rocks of the vicinity.
Reference—G. P. Merrill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 24, 1902, p. 907.
AGEN, LOT-ET-GARONNE, FRANCE. No. 231.
Stone, Cia. Three small fragments, weighing 38 grams, from a stone which fell September 5, 1814.
AHUMADA, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. No. 436.
Stony-iron, Pallasite. Irregular slice some 17 cm. by 10 em. by 15 mm., weighing 840 grams. Consists of irregular masses of olivine,
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 8
Two SPECIMENS OF ADMIRE PALLASITE, AS FOUND.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGE 30.
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BUPEETINEO SSeS
SECTION OF (1) METALLIC PORTION AND (2) POLISHED SLICE OF ADMIRE PALLASITE.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGE 30.
%
a on in eee 7 aa 7 Wey
2 @
. ve .
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 10
2 POLISHED SLICES OF (1) AHUMADA PALLASITE AND (2) OF AINSWORTH IRON.
FoR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGES 30 AND 31.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 31
sometimes 2 cm. in diameter, in a coarse network of metal, with very little sulphide. Found in 1909. (PI. 10, fig. 1.)
Reference.—O. C. Farrington, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Publ. 178, Geol. Ser., vol. 5, No. 1, 1914, p. 1.
AINSWORTH, BROWN COUNTY, NEBRASKA. No. 3%5,
Iron, Ogg. Etched slab weighing 1,716 grams. A portion of a mass weighing 10.65 kilograms, or 23$ pounds. Remarkable for its coarse crystallization (see pl. 10). Found in 1907. Analysis by Wirt Tassin showed:
Per cent.
ROTI CHC) Ele Seek Se el eee ee eee 92. 22 INTC ISO TES CING)) peas 2 coche nF see ee ee 6. 49 Bc sa Uitesge (Oi) a as a ee i . 42 CONE Ta GO 10 er ee eee ee . OL PEST 1 A 10 Se GR ap) a a a ea cee eee . 28 Sorin tneise ns) pee ee ee eee ae ae . OT Chromium n(@r)) ee ee a eee OW Silicones (Si) ee es a Ee ea i Re . 049 Warhorbia ©) pa ns ee ee ee eS ee . 09 99. 639
Reference. EK. Howell, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 25, 1908, p. 105. ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. (See also Glorieta.) No. 115.
Iron, Om. Small section showing original and etched surface, weighing 56 grams; part of a mass found in 1884, and regarded by Kunz as probably a part of the Glorieta fall. Composition accord- ing to Eakins:
Per cent. ATOMS GHG) x oem rs rae cee ee a se PR OE 88. 76 BINT GID S A(PINGMN) ote Eee A Aa ee a ee 9. 86 Bey Sulit (ee re oe ee ee ee Poi: Copper. CCU) Hae es eed Aa ae See ees Cy See 03 FFU pal (ZAIN) apse Let ee ee ene de 030 ears corn Tn (CC es ss a eS Trace, INE SINAC SOY py IVEE) Recs ok Bret Sel le ella Nee Trace. aT Ca eget eae Lan IS oS IP 41 HOSP HORUS: SCE) eet ae eS . 182 SON CS) a a ee . 012 SGC erera aes (CSE) ae a a eee . 044
99. 842
References—G. F. Kunz, Further notes on the meteoric iron from Glorieta Mountain, New Mexico. Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 32, 1886, p. 311. L. G. Eakins, Meteoric iron from New Mexico. Proc. Colo. Sci. Soc., vol. 2, 1885, p. 14.
ALEPPO (HALEB), SYRIA. No, 287,
Stone, Cwb. Section of mass, with portion of crust, weighing 167 grams, from a stone weighing 3 kilograms, supposed to have fallen
32 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
in 1878. An ash-gray groundmass flecked with rust and containing numerous metallic grains; traversed with slickensided veins.
ALFIANELLO, PROVINCE OF BRESCIA, ITALY. Nos. 71, 466, 497.
Stone, Ci. Three fragments weighing, respectively, 61.3, 134, and 17 grams, with and without crust. Showing ash-gray groundmass flecked with rust spots and carrying chondrules and metallic grains. Fell at 2.55 p. m. February 16, 1883, traveling in a south-southeast direction, but, through some unaccountable reason, burying itself obliquely in the soil to the depth of a meter in an opposite direction. The grass in the vicinity of the hole is stated to have been singed and the stone still warm when dug up. Orignal weight 260 kilograms.
The results of analyses as given by chemists are somewhat variable. In column I below are those of H. von Foullon, and in column II those of P. Maissen:
Constituents. I. i8te Silican(SiOs)eoscecnsesse ses 39. 14 37. 63 Alumina (Al,03)........-.- . 93 1.78 Ferrous oxide (FeO)......- 17. 42 24. 42 Magnesia (MgO).......-.-- 25. 01 23. 43 Time (CaO) 2.4 see se~---0e 1.96 . 89 Sodai(NasO) ice cecaccnccan- sD, 1.09 Potash (KisO))asacasstes eae .10 . 24 Troni(He)e-e-eeeceseesese |, leo 5. 76 Nickel ONee see eee see eeee 1.09 1.14 Cobalt\(Co)esnecereecssesas|taeeeeaee . 08 Sulphuri(S) sec. sce. 2.71 2. 54 PHoOspHOLUs) (presse eee ol ese ace 15 Chromic oxide (Cr2O3).-..-.|..-.-.-.-- -10
Manganous oxide (MnO)...|.......--- malay
1 Record also CrO3 0.629.
The mineral composition, as calculated from these analyses, is:
Per cent.
Bronzite and feldspar (maskelynite) ____._-____-__-----_- 41. 37 Olivine 22. 320) Boh a eee eee 43.77 Nickel-ironv one 6s eon ee ee eee ee ee 7. 66 Pytrhotites 22. 22 es ee 7.45 100. 25
There are present also a phosphatic mineral and granules of chromic iron.
References —H. von Foullon, Sitz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, vol. 88, 1883, p. 433. P. Maissen, Gazz. Chim. Ital., vol. 13, 1884, p. 369. George P. Merrill, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol 1, 1915, pp. 302-808.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 33 ALGOMA POST OFFICE, KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WISCONSIN. No, 273.
Iron, Om. Two fragments weighing 4 and 12 grams, from a mass weighing a little more than 2 kilograms, found in 1887. The original iron was remarkable for its discoid shape, measuring 25 by 163 cm. with a maximum thickness of 24 cm. The chemical composition, as given by Hobbs, is as follows:
Per cent.
Tron (Re) ye a ee ae a ee a ee eee 88. 62 Nickels CNi hace oe Se ee eee 10. 68 Gia nt Ge ee . 84 Phosphorus (P)-2---2--_-_____-__=___-___---____-_— ley SITTCATN UST On) eee ot eS eee ees eS . 02 Sulphur (S)---------------------------------------- Trace. Gamer (Om) 22. ADhigiri On NRE To TAS ET Ao eye ce None. GaehomutO) 20. ee a oe Lee eee ee None. 100. 26
Reference-——W. H. Hobbs, Meteorite from Algoma, Wisconsin Bull. Geol. Soc. America, vol. 14, 1903, p. 97.
ALLEGAN, THOMAS HILL, ON THE SAUGATUCK ROAD, ALLEGAN COUNTY, MICHI- GAN. No, 215.
Stone, Cco. Principal mass, covered, except where broken, with thick black crust (pl. 11), and many fragments. Total weight about 35.5 kilograms. Fell a little after 8 o’clock on the morning of July 10, 1899. Flight from the northeast toward the southwest. When first seen in the air (after explosion) it had the appearance of a black ball, the size of a man’s hand when closed, followed by a bluish cloud apparently some six feet in length. The explosion was reported as cannon-like, and was followed by a hissing sound compared with that of an engine blowing off steam. But one mass was seen to fall, which buried itself in the sand only to the depth of 18 inches.
The chemical composition of the stone is as follows:
Metallic part, 23.06 per cent: Per cent. PROM CHG) ee UAE d eee aa Pela ae Manat NS 21. 09 Copper (Cu) 222-52 ets 01 TN CRO1e GING) aoe seat ee Ren ees ee 1. 81 Cobalt)( Co) 22 ee ee ee ee .15
Stony part, 76.94 per cent: .
Silica), (Si@s) oa es Ses SE oe es SS -—— 34. 95 Mitanic oxide (TiO; 2 oe ss a Ss .08 Phosphoric acid (P20s) _-_-+--~---------------------- Sat. Alumina (Al;O3)222—2- 2-2-2 - +--+ ------ == 2. 55 @hromicsomder(CrOs) se ee ee ee a8: Ferrous oxide (FeO) _---- Shap Reese ap Sig DAL 2 Ns Nes Ye Pease a 8. 47 Ferrous sulphide (MeS)----------------------------- 5. 05 Manganous oxide (MnO) ---------------------------- .18 INickeclmoxddeu (MIO) 228 owes ee ee eee Trace.
5692°—Bull. 94 _16—3
84 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Stony part, 76.94 per cent—Continued. Per cent. Taimer(CaQ) 22 see See OS aS ee ee ee eee 1. 73 Macnesia (MeO) ss. ie eee eee 21. 99 Botash\ (6sQ))) 22822 6 BA Se 2, SOS ees eee 2 Soda'(INa.O) 226 2s 2 ee Se ee eee . 66 hithiasCis@) Sere 2 ee ee Se eee Faint trace. Tenition (HL0)) ¢0 a) <== ap ee
above V1) 22. 3.32 2 eee .19 100. 00
Specific gravity at 27° C., 3.905.
The mineral composition of this stone is essentially olivine and enstatite in nearly equal proportions, with 23.06 per cent nickelifer- ous iron and 1.3 per cent chromite. Structurally, it is chondritic and tufaceous, the chondrules showing in some cases undoubted evidences of their fragmental nature before the stone consolidated in its present form. Extremely friable; color light ash gray.
Reference.—Geo. P. Merrill and H. N. Stokes, A new stony meteorite from Allegan, Michigan [and a new iron meteorite from Mart, Texas]. Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., vol. 2, 1900, pp. 41-56.
AMALIA FARM, NEAR GIBEON, GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA. No, 433.
Tron, Off. Etched slice, 25 by 15 by 6 cm., weighing 6,538 grams and showing structure indicative of the welding of three distinct masses. (See also Mukerop.)
Gift of C. S. Bement.
ANDERSON, LITTLE MIAMI VALLEY, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO. No. 106.
Stony-iron, Pallasite. Weight 15 grams. Found in “Indian mound No. 3 of the Turner Group,” in the Little Miami Valley of Ohio. (Supposed to be a part of Brenham, Kiowa County, Kans.)
Reference-—O. W. Huntington, Prehistoric and Kiowa County pallasites. Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci., vol. 26, 1891, pp. 1-12.
ANGRA DOS REIS, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. No, 111,
Stone, A. Fragment weighing 8.5 grams, with shining black crust. The fragment is interesting as representing the rare group of angrites, or stones which are composed almost wholly of the mineral augite.
ARISPE, SONORA, MEXICO. Nos, 299, 325.
Tron, Ogg. Two samples; an etched slab 48 by 28 by 2 cm., weigh- ing 9,695 grams, and a complete individual weighing 52,727 grams. Found in 1898 in northeastern Mexico. Nothing known regarding fall. The slice shows an interrupted line of troilite masses, which, together with the crystallization brought out by the etched figure, indicates that it is made up of two differently oriented masses welded together. A partial analysis by Whitfield yielded: iron, 92.268;
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 11
2
POLISHED SLICE OF (1) BRENHAM PALLASITE AND (2) THE ALLEGAN METEORIC STONE, AS FOUND.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGES 33 AND 49,
a & oro 7 i ;
j= a See be ee ee i i
» i i i _ 2 - 2
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 12
POLISHED SLICE OF (1) CANON DIABLO IRON AND (2) ETCHED SLICE OF ARISPE IRON.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGES 34 AND 51.
: ‘ —_ 4 2 7 ; i 7. ie
a : “ “q
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 35
nickel, 7.040. Subsequently Dr. John M. Davison found traces of platinum. Specific gravity, 7.853. This iron is remarkable for the large masses of dendritic schreibersite it contains. (See pl. 12, fig. 2.)
Reference.—H. A. Ward, Proc. Rochester Acad. Sci., vol. 4, 1902, p. (9. ; ARLINGTON, SIBLEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA, No. 492.
Tron, Om. A thin slice 60 by 20 mm. and weighing 24 grams, from a mass weighing 193 pounds, found in 1894. An analysis by F. F. Sharpless yielded:
Per cent. TOA CHG) see eee ee Se eT ee ee 90. 781 ITCH 1 (HINGIS) eee see a Se aa tT 8. 605 Spat te Oe ee ek Ne tas A Re 1. 023 HOSPHORUSEN (hy) eas ee ee ee eh ae . 045 100. 454
No sulphur, silicon, or manganese, and but traces of chromium,
copper, and carbon. Reference.—N. H. Winchell, Amer. Geologist, vol. 18, 1896, p. 267.
AUBURN, LEE (FORMERLY MACON) COUNTY, ALABAMA, No. 35,
Tron, H. Weight 23 grams. Date of fall unknown, the mass be- ing ploughed up in a field “many years” prior to 1869. The iron as found was described by C. U. Shepard as cracked up and subdivided by open veins as if it had been shattered by striking against a rock at the time of its fall. The cohesion was so imperfect that it could be broken into small pieces by means of a sledge hammer, and a very large portion of it has been lost. The chemical composition as given is:
Per cent. BUTe oT pes (HE) ee ra ee eR re ee ee 94. 58 TINT a (ING A) ms eet tae ee eee ee eee eee 3.015 IPROSDHOrUSH s (CE eee ae ae ey ee ee ee . 129 ESOL UTED VO es a aes rh aah ne toe pn) 20 ae ES we CEO TCC eae al ee IT 54° Siena ay (TMA gprs es a ea ee Watery 1G a)) ees 2 = ee es ee ee eee eee onde STA COMTRI DI CEN 1) ae wank ee ee et OUTS eee a sa shes aa ae ed ewe args | EF
100. 00
Reference—C. U. Shepard, Meteoric iron from Auburn, Macon County, Alabama. Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 47, 1869, p. 230.
AUGUSTINOWKA, EKATERINOSLAW, RUSSIA. No. 224, Tron, Of. Weight 70 grams. Rectangular slice, 9.5 by 2.5 cm.,
etched and showing Widmanstitten figures. Date of fall unknown. Found 1890, buried at the depth of a meter in the loess. Original
36 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
weight 25 pfund (400 kilograms). Composition as given by Meunier: One gram yielded:
Per cent. Merri © Ox 6 CHC: Os) ee 0. 88 Nickel oxide (NiO) _W--2-22- eee SRY Schreibersite.. =-2 2 222.3 ahh eae . 038 Insoluble:-material >= eee . 021 1 OG
The iron as found was very badly oxidized, but is of interest as being probably of prediluvial age. Structure octahedral. Reference—S. Meunier, Compt. Rend., vol. 116, 1893, p. 1151.
BABB’S MILL, GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE, No. 98.
Iron, Db. Weight, 38.4 grams. Date of fall unknown; found in 1842 and described by Troost in 1845; later (in 1876) a larger mass was found which was described and figured by W. P. Blake in 1886. The second find was remarkable for its peculiar shape, being 36 inches long, 10 inches broad, and 6 inches in thickness, with a girth.of 24 inches. (See Cast No. 291.) It belongs to the group of structureless irons, ataxites, and shows no figures on an etched surface. The chemi- cal composition as given by Cohen and Weinschenk is:
Per cent.
Tron (ie) 22220 86. 30 ING @IKe Ti (ING) es 12. 58 Cobalt) (C0) 2222 ee a 1. 66 100. 54
References.—G. Troost, Meteoric iron from Green Co., Tenn. Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 49, 1845, pp. 342-344. W. P. Blake, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 31, 1886, pp. 41-46. Cohen and Weinschenk, Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus., vol. 6, 1891, p. 142.
BALLINOO, MURCHISON RIVER, WEST AUSTRALIA. No. 254,
Iron, Off. Weight, 1,266 grams; etched slab 19.5 by 9 cm., showing troilite nodules. Date of fall not known. Found in 1893. Weight of original mass, 42.9 kilograms (93 Ibs.). Composition :
Per cent. Tron. (he ee ee 89. 909 INT CRO LI GING)) eee 8. 850 Gobalt. (Co) 28 ee es . M0 Phosphorus (P) ~----------------------------------- .db01 Carbon (@) 2 Copper (Cu) --------------------------------------- eee Sulphur (S)--------------------------------------- Silicon (Si) _-.-----------------------------=====-- J . 100. 00
Specific gravity_-___---.----------------------------- 7.8
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 37
Subsequent investigations have shown this iron to contain traces of ~ palladium and ruthenium. References —H. A. Ward, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 5, 1898, p. 186. Geo. P. Merrill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 43, 1912, p. 596.
BARBOTAN, LANDES, FRANCE, No, 305.
Stone, Cga. Weight, 273 grams. Irregular fragment without crust. Dark gray, rust spotted. Fell July 24, 1790. The fall was observed over an area of many miles, the meteor appearing asa blind- ing white ball followed by a dark red trail. Its fall was accom- panied by an explosion, the thunder-like report of which continued
' for three or four minutes, the fragments burying themselves in the earth to a depth of from three to five feet. Wiilfing gives the known weight as 5,911 grams, of which 858 grams are in the British Mu- seum and 618 in the Vienna Museum.
Composition: Satisfactory chemical analyses seem never to have been made. <A microscopic study by Tschermak showed it to have an indistinct chondritic structure and to consist of bronzite and olivine with nickel-iron and troilite. The stone is of more than usual in- terest, being one of the early well-authenticated falls.
Reference—H. Pfahler, Min. pet. Mitth., vol. 13, 1893, p. 353.
BARRATTA STATION, 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF DENILIQUIN, NEW SOUTH WALES, No, 289,
Stone,Cgb. Weight,451 grams; triangular fragment, with polished surface and original crust. Date. of fall unknown. Three stones found, the first, weighing about 71 kilograms, in 1852, and the two others, weighing 21.77 kilograms and 14.3 kilograms, in 1889. Com- pact, dark gray, chondritic stones, the chondrules so large (1-5 mm.) and abundant as to give it, even to the unaided eye, a conglomerated appearance. Under the microscope a mass of more or less fragmental and distorted chondrules of olivine and enstatite, with interstitial iron and troilite. An analysis by Liversidge yielded:
Per cent. Sri eay S10 3) eee seh ee ce on BS 40. 280 Alumina (A103) ___-__-_-_-_.__ Pree Ieee a nemee a ety ee ar ce. 1. 843 Herrics0xide «(Wes @ 5) eee ee ae TY Be A 3. 930 imes(CaQ)\ 2s ee Baise eee opie Ra AyL ute ES ESE 1. 400 Ma emesis (Mi @) erties see wee oe eee eS ee 23. T33 Manganousioxdideb(Min@) 2 outs oo eee a) eee . 134 OLAS Tig CeO) ieee — cae eee he a eae 1. 024 Oden GNaa@))Mesecimathe ee ee ae ot i ae RN, . 997 Sep EUTaT ps CGS) eee ee re ar ce ae 2. 288 Rie rags (HH) eee a ees ee a oe eA te ae ee 14. 966
SENSE CES CLUE CIN TS) ie ke ah SO aU SL 4. 219
38 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Per cent.
Cobalt, (Co) 2222.2 -.522.2 ae ee ee Traces. Copper: (Cul) 222222222 eee . 182 Phosphorus?\(P): 2222-22230. ae eee - 617 96. 213
with traces of chromium and carbon. Reference.—A. Liversidge, Journ. Proc. Royal Soc. New South Wales, vol. 16, 1883, p. 31; vol. 36, 1902, p. 350.
BATH, BROWN COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA, Nos. 201, 276.
Stone, Ceb. Weights, 25 and 687 grams. Fragments with crust and polished surface. Crust dull black, papillated and somewhat blebby. Groundmass ash gray, flecked with rust and containing chondrules and metallic particles. Fine, granular, compact. Fell about 4 p.m. on August 29, 1892, the fall being witnessed by two men. Stone buried itself in the ground to a depth of 16 inches and was still warm when dug up. Apparently has never been analyzed. Original weight, 21.2 kilos, or 463 pounds.
Reference.—A. E. Foote, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 45, 1893, p. 64.
BATH FURNACE, KENTUCKY. No. 302,
Stone, Cia. Triangular fragment weighing 323 grams. Frag- ment of a stone which fell in the early evening of November 15, 1902. Three masses were found—one weighing 5.8 kilograms or 12 pounds, 121 ounces, the second weighing 223 grams and the third 80.57 kilo- grams, or about 177 pounds. Thé last mentioned, now in the Field Museum at Chicago, is remarkable on account of the perfection of its strongly fluted surface. It has not been analyzed.
Reference —H. A. Ward, Proc. Rochester Acad. Sci., vol. 4, 1905, p. 198.
BEAR CREEK, DENVER COUNTY, COLORADO. No. 60.
Iron, Of. Weight 25 grams. Thin slice 3.7 by 2.8 by 4 cm. Pol-
lished and etched showing Widmanstiitten figures. Taenite plates
very distinct. Date of fall unknown. Found and described in 1866. Composition as determined by J. L. Smith:
Per cent. OTN HC) ee ee 83. 89 Nickel ((N1)220 52 Se a Oe 14. 06 Gobalti(Co) a . 83 Copper (CU) a Trace Phosphorus (P) ==-=-------=--==--------~-_-_--_--___ 21
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 39
Smith also determined the presence of schreibersite and pyrrhotite, the latter of which yielded on analysis:
Per cent.
Sea py Tas (CS) se a are Eg PRN a BNE Lee pate 35. 08 AUS yS reg CHG) sees ooh eee Io Pee Re A SR ones ea SW AO 61. 82 AISLE UES (INTE) Re ae ee ek ere Pee 41 SOL CST CE ie ee eee ee ee ea ee ee A ORI 1 St 99, 12
Reference.—J. L. Smith, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 44, 1867, p. 66. BEAVER CREEK, WEST KOOTENAI DISTRICT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Nos. 170, 342.
Stone, Cck. Two pieces weighing 330 and 369 grams. Fragments with dull black papillated crust; from a stone which fell between 3 and 4 o'clock on the afternoon of May 26, 1893; flight from the west toward the east; fall preceded by sharp report heard for a dis- tance of 25 miles. Stone broke in two pieces, the largest of which, weighing 14,000 grams, buried itself in the earth for a distance of about 3 feet, the direction of the hole being at an angle of about 58° with the horizon. Chemical composition: The metallic portion yielded:
Per cent.
TiananMen pees eens ee ten tate NET SE 8 PR ee eee ED 90. 68 INTER GLAGING ys Sater eres haar Needs Oe al EH eb a 8. 80 Woh alite (CO) eee ese eS eee TE ee eed . 49 MIRC OU ek See ree a Se HE Lg: Ms AO . 03 100. 00
The silicates, divided into soluble and insoluble portions, as usual, yielded:
Constituents. Soluble ae portion. | portion. Billed (SiOs)sasa2 ones ate ae. 38. 26 57. 75 Ditani¢c oxide (/TiOs) s2s-2.|---s2se0- 18 Alumina (AlsO3)........... 56 4.89 Ferrous oxide (FeO)....... 19. 52 8. 02 Nickel oxide (NiO)........ . 09 Trace. Manganous oxide (MnO)... 327 35 ime; (CaO)sss2cceeecs oueee 1.03 3. 44 Magnesia (MgO)........... 38. 73 23.19 Potash) (KsO) 2s coer sae . 02 25 Sodai(NasO) 220 22528255. <3 1. 87 Ignition (H20) above 100°.. .70 . 06 Phosphoric acid (P205)..... USHA aseneeccas Chioring:(Cl)ate esses tenses TPACBi alsin 99. 99 100. 00
40 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
From these results, aided by a microscopic study, the composition of the entire mass has been calculated as follows:
Per cent. Silica (S102) 22==== pooh ee ee ee eee 37. 14 Adumina:-CA).Os) 2225-20 2, A5 Mitanic-oxide: (TiO2)) 225 eee . 07 Perrous: Oxide: (HeO) #22222 SS eee 10. 45 Nickelsoxide (NiO) 222 223 eee . 033 Manvanous;oxides( Mn) 2=s= === aes Lame A CaO) ei ee ee ee 1. 76 Maenesia (Mic@)) 2252" Sis Se ee eee 23. 44 Potash’ (KO)! 2 tes ea he Ses ea . 097 Soda=\(Na.0) 222222 Se ee ee ee ee . 79 Water. (EO) 22 ae ee oe i eee . 28 Phosphoriciacids (220s) ea ae ee eee . 20 Tron, (CHG) so ee a re eee 1s INT Cee CIN) ee se nee Re ae By ToL Cobalt:\(Co) Aes ae ES Sa ee . 09 Copper (CU) 22 seas ee ee eee . 006 MT Polite 2 Go het = Soa ee a Soe eS ee 5. 05 GTOM LCG ea eo eet es De See Ans aed Aa egy eee Ud Masriethte Le, ee los SMe) te ns Sn ee a, cn eee ene me 99. 806
The mineral composition is olivine, enstatite, metallic iron, mag- netite, troilite, and chromite, with a lime phosphate and plagioclase feldspar (2) in very small quantity. The proportional amounts of these constituents are: Iron, 17.30; troilite, 5.05; chromite, 0.77; mag- netite, 0.16; soluble silicates (mainly olivine) and phosphates, 37.23; insoluble silicates (mainly enstatite), 39.66.
The structure is chondritic and compact; somewhat friable; color, gray.
The 330-gram piece is the gift of Mr. James Hislop.
Reference.—K. FE. Howell, The Beaver Creek meteorite. (Chemi- eal work by W. F. Hillebrand, microscopic work by Geo. P. Mer- rill.) Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 47, 1894, p. 480.
BELLA ROCA, SIERRA DE SAN FRANCISCO, SANTIAGO, PAPASQUIARO, DURANGO, MEXICO, No. 142.
Tron, Of. Weight 152 grams. Irregular mass 5 by 6 cm., contain- ing cavity left by oxidation of large troilite nodule; one surface etched, showing Widmanstiitten figures and scattering troilites. Weight of original mass 33 kilograms. Date of fall unknown. Found in 1888. Described by Whitfield, who found the metallic portion to consist of:
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 41
Per cent.
Trove (He) Oe lf eee Peet II AOE cae SPC te Pero 2 91. 48 iewer: UINT fcc ee Cee uo et ee ne re 7.92 Wahalte (Co). et ee ee ee noe Phosphorus (PP) {22st oes ee eee 220 Sulphur ((S)( S222 6 5 Se ee ee ook Carbon (Cie 2a a ee ee ee . 06 100. 10
The iron was deeply pitted exteriorly. From the bottom of one of these pits was obtained material which on examination proved to be troilite, from which it was assumed that the pits were formed by the weathering out of troilite nodules.
Gift of Messrs. Ward and Howell.
Reference.—J. E. Whitfield, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 37, 1889, p. 489.
BEMDEGO, PROVINCE OF BAHIA, BRAZIL, No. 351.
Tron, Og. Triangular slab 11.5 by 4.5 cm., weighing 140 grams, with one large troilite nodule. The original mass as found weighed 5,370 kilograms, or 11,814 pounds, being, therefore, the fourth largest mass known. Found about 1811. Date of fall unknown.
Reference —Orville A. Derby, Archiv. Mus. Nac. Rio de Janeiro, vol. 9, 1896, p. 89.
BENARES (KRAKHUT), INDIA. No. 42.
Stone, Ce. A 1-gram fragment from a shower which fell at Benares on December 19, 1798.
RETHANY, GREAT NAMAQUALAND, SOUTH AFRICA. No, 489,
Tron, Om. An end slice showing portion of original surface, weigh- ing 127 grams, from a mass known since 1860, weighing originally some 231.84 kilograms (510 pounds). An average of two analyses by Dr. J. Fahrenhorst yielded the results in columns IT and IT below, I being that of the mass as a whole and II that of the nickel-iron freed from other constituents.
Constituents. I. ET. Troni(He) Gessereacesasecinss|(nol.6o 91. 485 NickeliG@Nil)eaesesceceee sre 7.975 7. 885 Cobalti(Co)es2 see eens sace= . 60 - 59 Copper (Cu) 2-2 sae. - = aoe 025 - 03 Carhoni(@)2e22 sce aeeil- s2= . 015 -O1 Chromium (Cr)............ U2 elnceeee et Chlorine (Ch soso. .ensessa OM al esyereteta cit Sulpnun (Sy ssceceeseacieeetls BOS). even beeen Phosphorus (P)......------ YOO Go| aae aiciectae
100.415 | 100.000
42 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
From these the mineral composition is calculated as:
Niekel=1romess 22s. Sis) ed se ee ee 99. 51 Schreibersiteu 222222222252 ee eee 39 Daubreelite 22225 ee = ee ee 05 Troititen ne a en oe ee ee 04 Tha wrencitéss5 2235253 ae ee eee O01
100. 00
Gift of South African Museum. Reference.—K. Cohen, Ann. South African Mus., vol. 2, 1900, p. 21. BIALYSTOCK, RUSSIAN POLAND. No. 382. Stone, Ho. A 21-gram fragment from a shower weighing alto- gether some 2 kilograms, which fell on October 5, 1827. BILLINGS, CHRISTIAN COUNTY, MISSOURI. No. 444,
Tron, Om. Slice 70 by 175 mm., weighing 440 grams. Found in 1903. Date of fall unknown. Chemical analysis by H. W. Nichols yielded :
Per cent.
Tron (We) 2-2 soe eee ee eee 91. 99 Nickel (GND) 2232 es EE a a es eee 7.38 Cobalt: (C0) 22222620 22 ee ee ee eee . 42 Copper” (Cu) S22 3 ie ee ee eee Ou! Silicon (Si) 222208 ae ee ee ee . 08 Phosphorus: (CP cee ek ee ee ee 15 Sulphur (8). 23 oe ee eee ee ee ee . 06 100. 09
Reference.—H. A. Ward, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 19, 1905, p. 240.
BISCHTUBE, PROVINCE OF TURGAI, RUSSIA. No. 229,
Tron, Og. Weight, 1,290 grams; slice 14 by 24 cm., showing coarse lamella with inclusions of troilite and schreibersite. Weight of three original masses, 48.75 kilograms. Date of fall unknown; found in 1888. Described by E. A. Kislakowsky as consisting of:
Per cent.
Schreibersite 222258 2 Nee les a ee ee ee 3. 85 QORivinG | 224 aoe a es ee ee ee 9.88 PA TV OT CIN TU ee ae eS a 2 ee eee 8. 06 Nickel-irom fee ae ae Oo ee ee eee eee 78. 25 100. 04
The nickel-iron contained:
Per cent.
Ton GW) 2 eee ee ee ee ee eee 93. 10 Nickel: (Ni) 222022 eh a Behe ae Ee eee Ee 4, 82 Cobalt. (Co) a Be ee ee 2. 08
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 43
The percentage of cobalt is unusually high. Specific gravity as made on different samples from the mass, 6.36, 6.60, and 6.92. This iron was subsequently studied by Brezina, whose results differed greatly, so far as proportional amounts of the varying constituents are concerned. He found:
Per cent.
IND CK OTe TT OTN eens see eae ts a ee ae ee eee 96. 97 SGHreiDersite ss een eee ST oe a eee 2. 52 MELA TEN OTN se ns IE Soe SO ee epee . 09 @hroniite?and) silicate granules! 2 ee 01 Windetermineds REST we eae Ce oe eee AL 100. 00
Omitting the undetermined residue and certain angular pieces separated in solution, he obtained for the iron:
Per cent.
HTirechaaent (el C)) pate eee Pr 2 Se a ee 91. 52 BINT (Nts) jee ee eee {isin 7 (OT sah ip (CO) esa ee ee as eee . 84 IPNOSDNOGUS is (Ease eee oe Ee . 389 @eirioriie (CO) ees ae ae ee ee eee ee .10 Coppers (Cy) eases eee ee ee ee ee 202 SRO RIOT Neo i) eee ae ee ee ee eee . 01 100. 00
References —E. D. Kislakowsky, Ueber den Meteoriten von Tur- gaisk. Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscow, No. 2, 1890, p.187. Abstract in Neues Jahrb., vol. 1, 1892, p. 51. KE. Cohen, Meteoreisen Studien, 5, Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus., vol. 12, Heft 1, 1897, p. 52.
BISHOPVILLE, SUMTER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. No. 222,
Stone, Chla. Weight, 102 grams; two fragments from the interior. Fell March 25, 1848. Original weight, 13 pounds (6 kilograms). This is a very interesting and somewhat unique stone belonging to Tschermak’s group of chladnites, of which but four representatives are at present known. The stone was first described by Shepard in 1846 as consisting in large part of a light gray material regarded by him as a persilicate of magnesia to which he proposed to give the name chladnite, in honor of the chemist, Chladni. Subsequent re- searches (in 1864) by J. Lawrence Smith showed the mineral to be identical with enstatite. In addition to this, Shepard thought to dis- cover two other new minerals, the one blue and the other yellow, to which he proposed to give, respectively, the names zodolite and apa- toid. These have since been shown to be oxidation products of the nickeliferous iron, or pyrrhotite. The stone was described in 1851 by W. Sartorious von Waltershausen, who thought to show that the sili-
44 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
ceous portion of the stone was made up of 95.011 per cent chladnite and 4.985 per cent of labradorite. Rammelsberg, in 1863, declared, as a result of his examination, that the stone contained no feldspar. In 1883, the stone was studied by modern petrographic methods by M. E. Wadsworth, who agreed with Shepard in describing it as a grayish- white mass resembling albitic granite, with brown and black spots and with a structure essentially granitic. The mineral composition as given is as follows: Enstatite, augite, feldspar, olivine, pyrrhotite, and iron. No perfectly satisfactory chemical analysis of the stone as a whole has until recently been made, those of Shepard, Smith, Rose, and Rammelsberg being all on selected siliceous material. Recent results by J. E. Whitfield are as below:
Per cent.
SUCH (CSO) a eae a a ge ee ee 57. 034 Alumina (AL@s) = 9 42 - Se ee 1. 706 Herricvoxideg( he Os)! Se eee AL ee ee 1. 406 Mancanousioside. (Vin ©) ee eee . 189 EMTS (CaO) 9 age ae Ca ES ea a ee 2. 016 Maenesiay (MeO i222 eae ee eee eee 3. 506 Cobalt oxide, (COO) 25a aaah 2 et ee oe Trace INL CK el ORO: CINT@ es ae a ere . 5388 Soda’ GNasO)) Sw ee Le ee ee eee 1. 027 Potashs(KO)) 2 eS Sel a ae ee eee . O89 Penition: (HsO))j i se Le ee 1. 995 Bron (He) se a a ns . 181 INTCKel (CNG) 22 as SR a ae ee ee . 039 Sulphur: (8S) oe ee eee eee 297 100, 023
Tess: OnfoniS = see eee Se ee eee . 147
99. S76
An amount of lime equivalent to 0.67 per cent calcium sulphide was liberated by boiling the finely pulverized stone for two hours in distilled water. Inspection of the stone in mass shows, in addition, occasional granules of an iron sulphide (troilite or pyrrhotite) which were evidently not included in the portion analyzed. No traces of ba- rium, strontium, or zirconium could be detected. The amount of ma- terial utilized in the analysis was not as large as could have been
desired. References—See Wiilfing, p. 80. Also G. P. Merrill, Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 14, 1916, p. 7.
BITBURG (ALBACHER MUHLE), RHENISH PRUSSIA, GERMANY. Nos, 122, 445,
Stony-iron, Pallasite. Irregular slag-like mass, weighing 22 grams, and polished and etched slice, some 35 by 35 by 20 mm., showing
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 45
original surface, weighing 86 grams. Found in 1802. Weight of original mass, over 1,600 kilograms. Analysis by Finkener yielded:
Per cent.
AMG O TNs (CE) eee te ee ee eS 85. 04 SINT IST CIN TT) ce eee Se eee eee 10. 51 Cobalt. (Col) 22 ee ee 1. 70 Cannern(C up = . OG @arbonsa cecousima tier. =22s =) eres en ee ee . 09 Stall go Ens CES) ee ree ea 1. 89 LEAAVOY=} OS AKO YES pa (1d) cee ee ee ee ee . 20 99. 49
Reference-—See Wiilfing, p. 31. BJELAJA ZERKOW, UKRAINE, KIEW, RUSSIA. No. 183.
Stone, Ce or Cg. A 10-gram fragment from the interior of a mass which fell on January 16, 1796.
BJELOKRYNITCHIE, VOLHYNIA, RUSSIA. No. 219.
Stone, Cib. An 8-gram fragment from a stone which fell on Jan- _ uary 1, 1887.
BJURBOLE, NEAR BORGA, IN SOUTHERN FINLAND. No. 238.
Stone, Cea. Weight, 617 grams; fragment with crust. Fell on March 12, 1899, at about half past 10 p. m., local time. The fall was accompanied by the usual light and by thunder-like sounds. The lhght _was seen over a large part of Finland; the direction of flight was from
west to east, passing over the western part of the Finnish Sea at a height estimated as some 53 kilometers. The stone fell upon the frozen surface of a lake, the ice being some 40 mm. in thickness (a little more than an inch and a half), making a hole some 3.5 meters by 4.25 meters, with a very uneven outline. The water of the lake was 90 cm. (about 354 inches) deep at this point, with a bottom consisting of mud composed largely of organic remains, and underlaid by clay, hard sand, and gravel, the stone burying itself in the clay, where it was found at a depth of 6 meters below the surface. The stone, when found, was broken in numerous pieces, large and small, estimated to weigh altogether 328 kilograms, of which the largest pieces weighed, respectively, 80.2, 21, 18, and 17 kilograms, the 80.2- kilogram piece being now in the museum of the Geological Survey of Finland. The stone is chondritic and very friable, of an ash gray
color, with the usual crust. Composition: ~ Per cent. VU ATG tLe srr GET Tea way ee eee 8 Soa cae eee, 5. 84
INOnmMaArNCtiC MmALerial oes Soe ey ee ee eee 94,16
46 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
The magnetic portion yielded:
Per cent. Tron’ (Fe) eA 70.1 or 4.092 NICKEL GND) a2 ee ee ee S°0'or. 47% Cobalt) (Go) 2225.2 as a a ee eee -3 or 018% PhosphorusiGe)) 222 = = ae ee eee ell Ors OOGis Merrous sulphide’ (HeS) 2222 a eee als) sare yeaa Silicatestts so 22 25s Pe ees ee eee 19.2 or 1.121?
99. 6 5. 815 The nonmagnetic portion yielded:
Per cent. Tron: (ie) es eee eee a ee 2. 43 Nickel CIN) 22 ss Sie De ee ee ead Cobalty (©) esi Se Pe SR te ee . 02 StrbpoUE CS i) eee aes aah et Se a ee 2. 06 Phosphorus=(@B) 22) S32 Le ee .14 Silica: (Sis) ee ee ee 43. 05 Alnmings \(CAIGO3) 252 ee ee ee) el a Eee 2. 68 Chromicoxide: (Cr@2) 22 ae ee ee eee . 62 Herrous oxide WdWNe@)) sae 2 2 Ue Ee ee eee ee 19. 06 Nickel oxide (NiO) 08 Copalt oxide (CoO) |i aniens Dehra arora maa We worse oo tsjocop-sto key (GU bIO)) 2 a eee Fame: (CaO) Saeae se cee oe a 1.91 Masnesiar’ (Me@)) 2223 Ss ees ee 27.01 Potash: (iS:@) soe 232 eee eS eee eee ee . 34 Soda. (Na. 0) 2222 ee ee eee 1. 34 101. 14 hess’ QO) fortSel 2. aie eee) Se ee 1. 03 100. 11
From these figures the bulk composition of the entire mass was calculated as follows:
Per cent.
Tron h(We)es3e. 2e S25 eta ee a 2 ee 6. 38 ING CK ET = CNTs) es Se Ee ee es ee eee ie Cobalt (C0) =. sae ee ee as ES a a eee . 04 Phosphorus, UP!) = 2-22" ae ee ee ee ee eee ee .14 Rerrous) sulphide! (eS) 22222 2—) Sa 5. 44 Sitica@CSiO7) 2 == 22 eee ee 41. 06 PATA Tar (ATO) 2 eae Se Eee Siren a ee ee Peavey Chromictoxides (CriOn) See ee ee ee . 59 Merrouscoxidey (hl e®)) 22 oe Ue eee 13. 80 Nickel oxdevGNi@) a2. 25. eee . 07 Manganous: oxide (Mn ©) 2s) Saas eee oA? Lime (CaO yaks 5 eee eae Se Ee ee oe ee 1. 82 Magnesia \(MgQO) 2222s Se eee ee eee 25. 75 Potash ((K.O). 22 =e ee eee -o2 Soda:\(Na:O) e222 ee ee ee ee ees ae 1, 24 100. 04
10Of the entire mass.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. AT
From this the mineral composition was calculated as:
Per cent.
IN CG TE Tre hr oe at ae eee a) eo pee ee Re RE Se 7.14 SREP OTE Cs 2 ete SEES sg a a is Der a De DL ee oe 5. 44 IPHOSPHOT=NTEl Goi ROT ete ees ares ee eRe ne . 90 COLO Ta Bes te ey AEs ees ein BO em es . 87 SS TT CSE SS ais le eS a enero eee es EEE Ay 85. 47 99.82
The silicate material yielded, on analysis, results as follows:
Per cent.
ASTI GS Lai) est cece ees ea LS va Sy 48. 15 ANU AG ON DEEL IM (PANNE Po) | la aye I 2. 98 ECREOUSTORIG Ey (HCO) ee Bu eae ihe en ees 14, 75 Manecanousvo side. (Ivini@)) 2:2 teks eet ey eee . 14 INE UTa ru CO Sa.) gee i A ee Se Dale Magnesia (MgO) ______ Ses Re ao tN te te wae ee bo Te Pe 30. 13 Ey EeeAS aa (PEs Os) ee LS ees says SOG IN Gs 0))) cheer a Be eh en er ea Pe) he eae 1. 45 100. 10
the silicates being enstatite, augite, anorthite, olivine, maskelynite(?), and glass.
The structure is, as above noted, strongly chondritic, the chon- drules being exceptionally variable in composition, the following forms being noted: (1) Anorthite chondrules; (2) olivine chondrules, both monosomatic and polysomatic; (8) glass chondrules with por- phyritic olivine inclusion; (4) ,olivine-pyroxene chondrules; and (5) pyroxene chondrules. The structure, as a whole, is that of a frag- mental rock, and it is so regarded by Messrs. W. Ramsay and L. H. Borgstrém, who have studied it.
Reference—W. Ramsay and L. H. Borgstrém, Bull. Comm. geol. Finlande, No. 12, 1902.
BLUFF, FAYETTE COUNTY, TEXAS. Nos. 135, 240, 344,
Stone, Ckb. Three fragments of first find (1878), weighing 137 grams, 110 grams, and 6,363 grams, showing crust; one with black vein as figured in American Journal of Science (vol. 36, 1888, p. 118). One fragment found in 1901, weighing 3,136 grams, with one polished surface; other surfaces weathered. Date of fall unknown. Weight of mass found in 1878, 146,000 grams; chemical analyses by Whit- field yielded results as follows:
48 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
No. 3: 33.3 | No. 4: 60.62 No.1: No. 2: 5.67 | per cent per cent
canton otal mass| percent, | total ine | tel HCl. HCl.
Silica, (S1@s) heer tece sons ss aceeae cea oe eee eee eee BIO) NE eee 49.64 33. 59 Iron (MO) eg she sashes ac cecntnn anon onesies coete ee cote ee 3.47 SON AD Heat social teeaaees emits Ferrous/0xid6\ (FOO) ss seemcsaceek espace unease on eee 23.82) cee Sater one 15.56 3lt2 Alumina (Al:03).......-- Beacon Bases Jeeseceere teen QT Sse cee 4.12 1.34 Phosphoric acid: (2130s) ses occ noone eee eee 25) os see recon eset - 42 ime (Ca) Sara -cocieco cs ne cae ie neck ean 2: 2010) |S eaanccseoee 4.93 1.00 Manranous oxide ((MnO)esseesessc eee ae mea aes sAOv" [eee seeeee 54 -43 Magnoesiar(MoO)\aoo2 soe nan eee baba ecesietessanue 25/94) lz scape cine tee 25.21 28.08 Nickeliosaider(NiO). sccsescussecee eos Dae secees eects 1.59) Ni Seoetecoes Trace. 2. 66 Nickel (Ni) scce-2- 25 Ses a ea 5 Ne opts OC (are A aera 65 15.44 Dracer|s-—--seesse- Cobaltoxidei(CoO)ss..--5----e Bo SEE See a eeu eae 346 [oss Trace. 27 Cobalt (Co) Seekee ats sore coe reas en ee ae .09 Dae settee ut tks SeiSbewceicie Sulphuri(S)* es ccrer cs comes see oe a eee aene seer 1530 ¢)achete Peco al Seeeeice eee 2.18
99.79 100. 00 100. 00 101.09 T56SS! OMOT GS oS ottcc case Ste wrest a se ee nee Ree eee (65 Se SSS sce speek eee 1.09
00:14 ileo2.2 cso Ss|6 eee 100. 00 Specific eravitys so osisc ceaceocies eos costes 3.510
Mineral composition.—Mainly olivine and enstatite with 5.67 per cent metallic iron. Structure chondritic; compact; is traversed by narrow, irregular dark veins (see pl. 7, fig. 2), the origin of which is problematic. In mineral composition they do not differ essentially from the main mass of the stone. Color, dark greenish-gray on a fresh surface.
Reference.—J. KE. Whitfield and G. P. Merrill, The Fayette County meteorite. Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 36, 1888, pp. 113-119.
BOHUMILITZ, PRACHIN, BOHEMIA, AUSTRIA. No. 446. Tron, Og. A slice 55 by 20 by 4 mm., weighing 103 grams, from a mass weighing some 57 kilograms, found in 1829. Several analyses have been made, but none can be considered satisfactory. Steinman gives iron, 94.06; nickel, 4.01; residue, 1.12; and sulphur, 0.81. FReference—Cohen and Weinschenk, Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus., vol. 6, 1891, p. 143. BORKUT, MARMAROS, HUNGARY. No. 189, Stone, Ce. Fragment from the interior, weighing 2 grams, BRAHIN, MINSK, RUSSIA. No. 124. | Stony-iron, Pallasite. Fragment of the iron matrix from which
all the stony matter has disappeared, weighing 14 grams; from a mass weighing some 100 kilograms, known as early as 1810.
BRAUNAU, BOHEMIA, AUSTRIA, Nos, 49, 491.
Tron, H. A fragment weighing 7.35 grams and a thin slice 25 by 30 by 2 mm., weighing 16 grams, from one of two masses weighing
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 49
17,082 grams and 23,628 grams, which fell July 14, 1847. This iron is of interest, being one of the very few which have been seen to fall, and, further, because of its hexahedral structure. The chemical analysis made by Fischer and Duflos is unsatisfactory. Reference.—C. C. Beinert, Der Meteorit von Braunau, Breslau,
1848. BREMERVORDE, GNARRENBURG, HANOVER, GERMANY. No. 14.
Stone, Ccb. Fragment weighing 2 grams, from a mass weighing
74 kilograms, which fell May 13, 1855. BRENHAM, KIOWA COUNTY, KANSAS. Nos, 154, 161, 266, 271, 280, 337.
Stony-iron, Pallasite. Weights 261, 326, 468, and 551 grams; also slice 31 by 25 cm., weighing 4.37 kilograms, and one complete individual weighing 17.27 kilograms. Date of fall unknown: found in 1885 when the prairie was first plowed. Over 20 individuals were found, weighing in the aggregate upward of 2,000 pounds, or about 909 kilograms, the largest individual weighing 466 pounds, or 211.8 kilograms. The relative proportions of olivine and iron are quite variable. (See pl. 11, fig. 1.) A polished surface shows large rounded blebs of greenish olivine imbedded in a groundmass of metallic iron. Occasional rounded masses of a bronze-colored troilite are evident, and there is a peculiar black lustrous border about the olivines which, as shown by Eakin’s analyses, was evidently an iron- rich variety of the same mineral.
The chemical composition of the two chief constituents, as shown by analyses, is as follows:
Constituents. Eakins. | Dodge. IRON. Per cent. | Per cent. Tron! (ie) teareceasesee eee aaa see 88.49 | 90.48 INTCR GU GNI) Pastas taicctoents ain's wie/ic seemeeeee 10. 35 8. 59 Cabalii(Co) tees cence. ae - cece eee sce . 57 .16 Copper (Ci) ssc emee cero eae meee sce .03 | Trace. HOSP HORUS (ks eeeteiee aise a alate slelseie stare aia 14 27 Sulphar(S) sie eee ae cscs sence eee cee . 08 -05 Carbon\(C) i: 23as 25525 Se Trace. | Trace. Silicon\(Si) eee caceeascciess see cccacer cane Trace, 24 99. 66 99. 79 OLIVINE Silica (8iQs) eee eee ae an ees eee ek 40.70 | 40.50 AVuming (A130) o-ss acces secmeec one se cee race, |s ossesooes Herric oxide) (H6:O3)i<.ce cess sec ecesace 18 aad Merrous oxide: (iieO)|. /staacsccccsce scene 10. 79 10. 51 Nickelloxide(NiO) 2c sete. canst eccanes OZ eee core Manganous oxide (MnO)................- OA od Searels
Magnesia (MgO)... 02... cccccccnnccnnn- 48. 02 47.18
5692°—Bull. 94—16—4
50 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Specific gravity of the iron at 23.4° C., 7.93; of the olivine at 23.2°, 3.376, according to Eakins. The proportional mineral composition of the meteorites as a whole, as given by Winchell and Dodge, is as follows:
Per cent.
Nickel-iron —0o =" 2 eee 74, 42 @hromite 2.25 -_ = se See 18. 31 Troilite = 2o. 2.5~oo a ee ee ee 4. 76 Schreipersite — 2222 fe a ea eee Buales 99. 62
Kunz thought to have detected scales of graphite, and speaks of the olivines leaving cavities highly polished, “showing even crystal face with a mirror-like luster.” In the United States National Mu- seum’s specimens nothing of the kind exists, the cavities being smoothly rounded throughout.
No. 154, gift of George F. Kunz; No. 161, of Robert Hay.
References.—G. F. Kunz, On the group of meteorites recently dis- covered in Brenham Township, Kiowa County, Kansas. Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 40, 1890, pp. 312-818. N. H. Winchell and J. A. Dodge, The Brenham, Kiowa County, Kansas, meteorites. Amer. Geologist, vols. 5 and 6, 1890, pp. 309 and 370.
BURLINGTON, OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK. No. 32.
Iron, Om. Fragment weighing 76.87 grams; one surface etched. Weight of original mass not known, but reported to have been from 100 to 200 pounds (45 to 90 kilograms). Date of fall unknown; plowed up in field and put in hands of a country blacksmith, who cut it up and made from portions articles for farmers’ use. Analysis by B. Silliman, jr., showed:
Per cent.
Metallic’ iron 2 2 eee ae ee oe eS eee eee 92. 291 Metallic ‘nickels 222 283 ease So aes ee ea ee ee 8. 146 100. 437
No other substances were detected. Specific gravity, 7.501. Reference.—B. Silliman, jr., Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 46, 1848-44, p. 401. BUTLER, BATES COUNTY, MISSOURI. No. 96. Iron, Off. Section 7.5 by 5.5 by 1.1 em. showing troilite nodules and weighing 270 grams. From a mass weighing 36 kilograms, first described in 1875. Analysis by J. L. Smith yielded:
Per cent Tron. |(@) oo 4222 Be ee ee ee 89. 12 Nickel (Ni) 22 ee ee eee ee 10. 02 Cobalt3(Co) 222 ee ee ee ee ere . 26 Copper--(@u) secs es See eS O01 Phosphorus: (P) 22225 ee eee _ 12
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
BULLETIN 94 PL. 13
OXIDIZED CANON DIABLO IRON (1) AS FOUND, (2) SLICED TO SHOW METALLIC NUCLEUS.
1 7 a ; = _ 7 : - Ah - -. I ; i ee 5 eo 2m = e - :
ara 2 Nu a >. A _ - as.
rh
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 14
ETCHED SLICE OF CANON DIABLO IRON.
FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PAGE 51.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 51
Reference.—J. L. Smith, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 18, 1877, p. 214.
‘BUTSURA, GORUCKPUR, INDIA. No. 93.
Stone, Ci. Fragment with crust, weighing 11 grams, from a shower of five stones weighing 22 kilograms which fell May 12, 1861.
CABIN CREEK, JOHNSON COUNTY, ARKANSAS. No. 76,
Iron, Om. A fragment weighing 34 grams from a mass of iron weighing some 47 kilograms; fell March 27, 1886.
CAMBRIA, NEAR LOCKPORT, NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK. No. 105.
Tron, Of. Weight 155 grams. Polished slice about 6 by 11 cm., showing Widmanstiitten figures and troilite nodules. Found about 1818 and described in 1845. Weight of original, 16.33 kilograms, or about 36 pounds.
Chemical composition as shown by Silliman and Hunt:
Per cent. Dea) a Vpn a 5 IN eS a ee A 92. 583 INTOR OLY tan aoe seer ede abe tan S20 peo a ta te eae aS 5. 708 Copper ana sarseni Gute sk EASE ess keke i ee Traces, Insoluble mater ig Tse kes ee Se ee ee 1.4
99. 691
References —Silliman, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 48, 1845, p. 388. Silliman and Hunt, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 2, 1846, p. 370.
CANON DIABLO, COCONINO COUNTY, ARIZONA. Nos, 193-199, 210, 355, 373, 390, 394, 401, 402, 403, 420.
Tron, Og. Nearly 400 complete individuals, weighing from less than 5 grams to 435,374 grams and of an aggregate weight of approxi- mately 2,200 pounds or 998 kilograms; also two etched slices, 34 by 22 cm. and 37 by 20 cm., showing large troilite nodules; a slice 18 by 12 cm., showing unusually large graphite nodules with veins of nickel iron; and an etched slice 26 by 13 cm., weighing altogether 20,894 grams. (See pls. 12, 18,14,and 17.) Aggregate weight of all found not known, but nearly 5 tons, or 4,545 kilograms have been accounted for. Date of fall unknown, but first iron found in 1891. Structure coarsely octahedral. In addition to the nickel-iron constituent, O. A. Derby found this iron to contain schreibersite, troilite, graphite, cohenite, and rhabdite. Koenig and Huntington found microscopic diamonds. (See No. 473.) Moissan showed it also to contain car- borundum, while Mallet found small and variable amounts of plati- pum, iridium, and probably rhodium. An analysis by J. E. Whit- field showed:
52 BULLETIN 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Per cent.
Silicon "(Sijieca) a ee ee ee Trace. Sulphur (S) 2.4022 ove ee eee eee 0. 009 IPhospnoruses (i) ee . 261 Mancanese » (Min) 222252 - 2 None. Copper | (G0) 42222 ee ee zeats= . 015 Nickell (ND) 2 222 ee {3830 Cobalt «(Coy ee . 510 Combined! (carvbon 22 ee . 105 Graphitielcar bon! 2 . 028 iron oxides: 22). = Sea ee ee 2. 520 Trone provochlonid clas. oes a= = aan — === . 097 Iron! .GWe) 22 2se Se ee eee 89. 167 100. 047
This iron is of unusual interest on account of the large amount found. By some it is thought that the large crater in the near vicinity was formed by the impact of larger members of the same shower. (See Meteor Crater Exhibit.)
References.—A. E.. Foote, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 42, 1891, p. 4138. Henri Moissan, Compt. Rend., vol. 139, 1904, p. 773. O. A. Derby, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 49, 1895, p. 101. Geo. P. Merrill, Smith- sonian Mise. Coll., vol. 50, pt. 4, 1908, p. 460; Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 35, 1913, p. 513.
CANYON CITY, TRINITY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. No. 468.
Iron, Og. Weight 275 grams. Nearly rectangular mass 5.5 by K.5 mm., showing troilite nodules. Found in 1875 on the border of a little stream flowing into Trinity River. Date of fall unknown. Weight of original mass 183 pounds.
Chemical analysis by J. M. Davison yielded:
Per cent. rorya eee ee 91. 25 NICK ete ee eS Ee ee ee 7. 85 Cobalt. Sa ea ee ee ee ee 1b ( POS} OS a 10
99. 37
Specific gravity, 7.68. This iron is singularly enough considered by Wiilfing to be identi- cal with that of Glorieta, New Mexico. Reference——H. A. Ward, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 17, 1904, p. 383. CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI. No. 108.
Stone, Cc. A 4-gram fragment with crust, from one of three pieces which fell August 14, 1846.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (CAPE IRON), CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA. No, 36.
Iron, Hea. Twenty-gram fragment from a mass weighing upward of 71 kilograms, found in 1798,
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 15
CASAS GRANDES IRON, WEIGHT 3,407 PouNDs.
FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PAGE 53.
apie é ak Ss Pee val * Gh :
on i om Lo BB ts, as es tao ay ~ Ape ‘ : - cep cige a. ew i es Wh : 7 7 - : = 7
16
BULLETIN 94 PL.
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
ETCHED SLICE OF CASAS GRANDES IRON.
FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PAGE 53.
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 17
2
(1) CANON DIABLO IRON, AND (2) COUCH, COAHUILA OR SANCHEZ ESTATE IRON.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGES 51 AND 141.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 53 CARLTON, HAMILTON COUNTY, TEXAS. No, 152.
Iron, Of. A 115-gram fragment from a mass weighing 81} kilo- grams, found in 1887. (See also Tucson, p. 163.)
CARTHAGE, SMITH COUNTY, TENNESSEE, No. 97,
Iron, Om. A 65-gram slice from a mass weighing 127 kilograms, found in 1840.
CASAS GRANDES, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO. No. 369.
Tron, Om. Large oval mass, 97 by 74 by 46 cm., weighing 1,317,920 grams, with cut surface 55 by 38 cm., showing Widmanstitten figures and troilite nodules; also three etched slices, 44 by 28 cm., 44 by 18 em., and 42 by 25 cm., weighing altogether 17,573 grams; in introduc- tory series, etched cube 5 cm. in diameter, weight 987 grams. (See pls. 15 and 16.) Found wrapped in coarse cloth and built into a brick tomb or altar. Original weight, 1,545,391 grams (3,407 pounds). No record of fall or early history. Composition as shown by J. E. Whitfield’s analysis:
Per cent.
Silom: ('S 1) ea a ae ee 0. 01 Tronk (We)2 2 a Se pl See NM A 90. 470 INT CI: (ING!) ase tee eae oN ce eee ES. ee T. 742 Cobalt’'(Co) 2b ee eae eee a eee . 604 Coppers (Cu) eee eee ee . 012 COMP INC GS eee ne eR ee ee Ee . 145
Carbon faite We tae ewes Swern LS Shee oe ey eee 03 Phosphoruss GP) esa eee eee oo ee . 166 Sulphur (S228 eS ee ee . 029 TRON OX 10 eS aa hs ee eee ee ge oe . 794 100. 004
References—W. Tassin, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 25, 1902, pp. 69-74. Geo. P. Merrill, Amer. Journ. Sei., vol. 35, 1918, p. 514. L. Fletcher, On the Mexican meteorites. Min. Mag., vol. 9, 1890.
CASTALIA, NASH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, No. 101.
Stone, Cgb. Nineteen-gram fragment with black, papillated crust, from one of three fragments weighing 7,300 grams, which fell May 14, 1874.
CERESETO, NEAR OTTIGLIO, PIEDMONT, ITALY. No. 245,
Stone, Cgb. Weight, 65 grams. Fragment with crust and slickensided fracture surfaces. Fell on the morning of July 17, 1840, at about half past seven. Flight was from east toward the west. Fall preceded by a sharp detonation. Three pieces were seen to fall, of which but one was found. Original weight, according to
54 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Buchner, 5,000 grams, of which 4,361 grams are accounted for by Wiilfing.
Composition: Olivine, pyroxene, and a feldspar, with a little iron and pyrrhotite.
Structure: Chondritic, brecciated, with slickensided surfaces.
Color: Ash gray.
CHANDAKAPUR, BERAR, INDIA. No. 28.
Stone, Cib or Cgb. Four grams from a 5,076-gram mass which fell June 6, 1838.
CHANTONNAY, VENDEE, FRANCE. No. 176.
Stone, Cgb. A i2-gram fragment of a black chondritic stone from a mass weighing some 10 kilograms, which fell on August 5,
1812. CHARCAS, SAN LUIS POTOSI, MEXICO. No. 146.
Tron, Om. Pyramidal mass polished on four sides and weighing 67 grams, from a mass weighing originally some 778,069 grams, known as early as 1804, perhaps identical with Descubridora.
CHARSONVILLE, NEAR ORLEANS, LOIRET, FRANCE. No. 137.
Stone, Cga. Fragment with crust, weighing 54 grams, fell No- vember 23, 1810.
CHATEAU-RENARD, MONTARGIS, LOIRET, FRANCE, No. 812.
Stone, Cia. Weight, 360 grams. Irregular fragment with crust on one side; shows faults and slickensides. Fell at 1.30 p. m. June 12, 1841. Original weight, some 20 kilos; according to Buchner, 30 to 40 kilos.) The flight was from the Southwest to northeast, the fall being accompanied by the usual explosion. On striking the ground, was broken into fragments, the largest of which weighed 15 kilos. According to an analysis by Dufrénoy (1841), the stone consists of :
Per cent. Silica. <CSiOs): = eet at UR hee Se ee ee ee 88. 18 Herrous; Oxide A (MeO))2.2 2 3 ee eee 29. 44 Maenesias- (MeO) 22s ee ee ee 17. 67 Manganese (Mn)-_-____.. ee Trace. Alumina e (CAI Os) ite 2 eae Le ee eee fa 3. 82 ime! o(CaQ) 22220 ae ee ee ee 0. 14 Tron ‘W(R@) a OE ee qekO Nickel GND) 22-2 ee ee ee 155 Sulphut’.i(S)22 22240822 Se ee ee eee 39 Potash: ((RGO) 22 es a a Ee ee = meh Soda’ (NaO) JIE bs si Be ee ee ee . 86
99. 97
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 55
Fifty-one per eent soluble in hydrochloric acid. From this the mineral composition was calculated:
By Dufrénoy: Per cent. | By Rammelsberg: Per cent. IND CK CIATION: 22 St eh see ee 9. 25 INTGKe Iron 28s
pe pee se ke eee 67 Proniee e e Won et 10. 00
Olivinew 22 = 2 eae Se eee 51. 62 Oy Oo a ie ne 52. 50
PAD UGE ere ee en ee 6. 31 CAUSE aan Sena SL ee 21. 30
Efornblende 2222 - = es aseanee 31. 86 abradoritee: 22-5 2 ee* 16. 20
99. 71 100. 00
Specific gravity, 3.56.
Structure compact, indistinctly chondritic.
References—Dufrénoy, Compt. Rend., vol. 18, 1841, p. 47. Ram- melsberg, Pogg. Ann., vol. 60, 1848, p. 186. O. Buchner, Die Meteor- iten, 1863, p. 66.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, GEORGIA. Nos. 208, 349.
Tron, Om. Three pieces weighing 123, 189, and 423 grams. Cross sections and portion of end of mass showing Widmanstiitten figures and grains of troilite. Date of fall unknown; found in 1894, 24 miles east of Cherokee Mills and 5 miles southwest of Canton, in Cherokee County. Appearance of iron such as to lead to the supposition that it had lain in the soil for a long period. Analyses by H. N. Stokes yielded :
Per cent.
Jaa (CYS) ) Se a ee ee ee ea a 91. 96 ETNIES Ee Un GIN 19) re a epee eee ye te Se 6. 70 Conaltz (Co) ieee ea eee eee Dee poe ee . 50 Copy tee GO i) re esa EE I . 03 trecaaOrsise (DD pa ake eee ee Se Te Es OL Sport irae (SS) are Se ee ee ee ee ee ee = Ol SET CG ENTER Uys) eres ee de 2 ee ee Trace. C@arhonhe (CO) eee ee oe as ee ee Se CE ee Trace. 99. 21
Structure coarsely octahedral with broad kamacite lamelle.
This iron is regarded by Wiilfing as identical with that of Lost- town, Cherokee County, found in 1867, and described by Shepard in 1868. Howell does not agree to this.
Reference —K. EK. Howell, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 50, 1895, p. 252.
CHICO MOUNTAIN, BREWSTER COUNTY, TEXAS. No. 513.
Tron, H. A 212-gram fragment from a mass of unknown weight found on the south side of Chico Mountain.
CHULAFINNEE, CLEBURNE COUNTY, ALABAMA. No, 81,
Tron, Om. Weight, 8.5 grams. From a mass weighing 14,750 grams found in 1873.
56 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. CLEVELAND, FAST TENNESSEE. (Lea Iron.) No. 58.
Tron, Om. Weight, 221 grams. Slab, 11 by 5 mm., with one small troilite nodule. Found in 1860. Original weight, 150.5 kilo- grams. Composition, as given by F. A. Genth:
Per cent.
Tron: (We) i222 8 es ee Se a ee 89. 93 Nickel 7CNi)) 2.202 29 = oe ee ee ee ee ee 8. 06 Copper. (Cu) = 82202 Sieh Se ee eee . 06 Cobalt. \(C0))s. 2 Se ae eee ee hao Se ee . 56 Phosphorus i222 32222) Se ee eee ee . 66 99, 27
Reference.—F. A. Genth, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1886, p. 366.
COAHUILA, MEXICO. (See also Sanchez Estate.) No. 64,
Iron, Hexahedrite. Weight, 3,510 grams. This practically com- plete mass is entered in previous catalogues as of unknown source, having been found in the collections without record. It is unques- tionably the iron described by Prof. C. U. Shepard in the American Journal of Science’ under the name of “A new meteoric iron of unknown locality in the Smithsonian Museum.” Examination shows it to be a normal hexahedrite, and according to Shepard’s analysis it has the following composition :
Per cent. Tron 252 See ee eee eee eee 92. 923 Nickel...2*ts Stes See Soe ee eee eee 6. O71 Cobalt anise 2s nse 2 ee ee Be ee ee ee 5389 Schreibersijemssss foe 5 Se ee Se Se eae eee eee 562 100. 095
with traces of copper (and tin?).
Specific gravity, 7.589.
The physical and chemical characters all agree so closely with irons from Coahuila, Mexico, that it is thought to be unquestionably a member of that group, although the mass shows on the exterior surface numerous tendencies to exfoliate, which are lacking in others from this locality. It is, however, placed provisionally among the Coahuila irons.
COLD BOKKEVELD, CAPE COLONY, SOUTH AFRICA. Nos. 5, 182,
Stone, K. Three fragments weighing 7 grams; fell October 18, 1838.
2Vol. 22, 1881,
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 57
COLFAX, RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. No, 151,
Iron, O. Weight, 315 grams. One face etched. Original weight, 2,400 grams. Found, 1880. Nothing known regarding fall. Analy- sis by Eakins showed:
Per cent.
SUT OTe (GE) eae a n= Se 88. 05 AINE CIEL CIN) 22 22i eS STs ere spemee ee ners) ae he eee eee 10. 37 CopaltT(Co)R2ee 222 hie ene Depo ee ie . 68 Coppers (Cu) 2 sae es ees ees eee ate . 04 I HOSPHOTUS® (Ey) eee a eae a ES ae rtrd) ERE ES oa SUL po Free (CS) ye ee ee ee ee ee meee . 08 SHED Om tay CS is) ae meee EL RE eed a aes . 02 99. 45
Gift of S. W. Cramer. Reference.—L. G. Eakins, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 39, 1890, p. 395. COLLESCIPOLI, TERNI, ITALY. No. 493.
Stone, Ce. Two grams of fragments from a stone weighing origi- nally 4 to 5 kilograms, which fell February 3, 1890. The first analy- sis, by Trottarelli, yielded somewhat anomalous results, which were not borne out by Whitfield’s later analysis given below:
Per cent. ASU) on SCO) ee cc, ei ete ac Iie papal 34. 59 PAMEANTUL TT ey CAS Op eres ee eet ee eee UE let eye Sere MNT ern 6. 43 HELLOUS OXI er GH EO) ee Aiene 8 Belen Seen eee ee 15. 87 Maron estan (Mig @)) aime siti ee oe ey sere oon PLL TNE AC OAO reese ren aan re ee IS ee eee 1. 79 POEASTIES (GO) eo ee ears ee nc EE AE . 26 PaIUCE EDS eb eRa@) yc tee ge aig rR Ree 1. 46 TO Tey CHG ee 2 eterna Soe Heil ean SE a le SY 17. 04 NICK EIA CNG) See ee re ee Sas PERT ELE PERE Bae 1.49 RRO ea Fea a) ne ee are Se Pe? ee Dae cme ne ae . 09 Nan pH eSC. > (UVITN ye eeemeerrids en et Cs ketene ed nie eRe se None, CT ra tara (aes) ea a ar OR es we eyes Pehl None. SS UUUPOILTER: QS) cere Re ee ee te gs ln a Sy None. SUPT CO TPN CEN CO) pea aaa ee ae Eran a te By None.
100. 19
References.—Trottarelli, Gazz. Chim. Ital., vol. 20, 1890, p. 611.
G. P. Merrill, Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 14, 1916, p 8. COON BUTTE, ARIZONA. No, 168.
Stone, Cib. Complete cross section weighing 200 grams. Weight of original, 2,787 grams. Found 1905. Date of fall unknown. A gray, chondritic stone, presenting no unusual features. Analysis by J. W. Mallet of the metallic portion yielded:
Per cent. EO Tay (CERT YRS SR UN te Ua ON Dr ay el Oa nM Le 88. 81 eeeMCMEE CS Ly) fer se eh oo a SO eae 10. 72 DCC ee. Levan Felipe ah jel eer jw PN 8 15 SEEM see cs eS eel hye aetna | 01
58 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
with traces of copper, manganese, and carbon. The mineral composi-
tion as calculated by Mallet is:
Per cent.
HINS ta tite Ss = ee ee ee eee eee 44. 73 Olivine: 2. 290 23 oe ee: Re 33. 48 Maskelynite,= 728. =o 2ce ee eee 6. 87 Nickel-iron.. =. So 3 = ea ee eee 8. 63 TrOnerust 2-23 2 2 ee eee Sales Schreibersite 2. 32. = ee eee . 76 IByrrhotite =~ = ee eee 2.14 Chromite ts 2 ee ee 2 a ees . 08 99. 72
Gift of D. M. Barringer. Reference—J. W. Mallet, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 21, 1906, p. 347.
COOPERTOWN, ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE. No, 30.
Tron, Om.
Section of mass 16 by 10 em., etched, weighing 633
grams; from a mass weighing nearly 17 kilograms (37 pounds) found in 1860. Is of interest from the perfection of the .Widmanstitten figures (see pl. 20). An analysis by J. L. Smith yielded:
Per cent.
bron (Che) 228) Bee ee ee eee eee 89. 59 Nickel; (Ni)@2 24 2 2 ee 2 ee ee Oo Cobalt, \¢@0)) ee =e ee ee ~oo Phosphorus (2). 4S SS eee . 04 Coppet:\( Cu) 22322 ee eee Trace. 99. 10
Gift of D. Crockett. Reference.—J. L. Smith, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 31, 1861, p. 266.
COSBY’S CREEK, COCKE COUNTY, TENNESSEE. Nos. 70, 495.
Tron, Og. Thirty-four grams of fragments from an iron found in 1887. Analysis by Dr. J. Fahrenhorst yielded: - Per cent. Iron (We))2 2-22. 222 ke ee ee ee 91. 49 INFCKEL (CNG) 2 =e. 2 ee ee ee 6. 36 Gobalti(Co) 28 a te ee ea eee ue Copper (Cu) 22! 2 ee ee eee . 02 Phosphorus! (PE) 2222-2 eS eee ams . 40 Sulphur (8) 2222. 2222 = eee -81 Carbon (CO) t222 =. 4 eee eee . 20 100. 00 The mineral composition is given as:
Per cent. Nickeliron] 232 2 ee eee 94. 95 Schreibersite 2 ee 2. 63 Troilite. 43. ee ee eee 2522 Graphite, carbon, and silicates____-_-------_----------- . 20
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 59
References.—G. Troost, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 38, 1840, pp. 250- 254, and (for analyses) KE. Cohen, Meteoreisen Studien, 11 Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus., vol. 15, 1900, pp. 372-878.
COSTILLA PEAK, CIMARRON RANGE, TAOS, NEW MEXICO. No. 382,
Tron, Om. Etched slice weighing 1,619 grams. Found 1881. Nothing known regarding fall. Original weight of mass 35 kilo- grams (78 pounds). Analysis by Eakins yielded:
Per cent.
DE OTa (GHC) eee ees ea Oe ee ee 91. 65 MIN GIS A CIN Ts) tp see ie ai eg nN Mpc TR a el I a A UR 7.71 Woes CO Oy) ye ae ae Nee Se ie ae a aes . 44 HOSP OGU Se) eee aS ee EL .10 SUE Shee ee Rivne sete Galt. ua” SLED .26 100. 16
Reference.—R. C. Hill, Proce. Colorado Sci. Soc., vol. 5, 1895, p: 128.
CRAB ORCHARD MOUNTAINS, POWDER MILL CREEK, ROCKWOOD, TENNESSEE, Nos. 119, 346, 376.
Stony-iron, Mesosiderite. Three fragments weighing 38, 948, and 1,010 grams. Found in 1887. Nothing known regarding fall. Weight of original three masses 43 kilograms. Shows metallic matrix con- taining grains of olivine and pyroxene. Structure quite irregular.
Analysis by J. E. Whitfield yielded:
Per cent.
SUMPCaME(STOS ewe 2 eA eR RDI AS ey aera LN A VE Sa 2 41. 92 sAulinmmiman GAUS Gs) et eee iat ade eee a Deine ss 9. 27 Herrousloxides (We@)) 22 — ee - ees e oe , 22. 94 AM sAira eh (@ sy CG)! aie eee ncaa gt ese 2 Gre ee a Ae 9. 09 Tet TIeCS 1 oy (CIV)! es testes ok ee renee a a 8. 76 OTN (CHIC) peters eae eee EES re eraser a 2 Se a fe A, Ss 3. 1D INERT (ING) ERA Sb ch EU eR Ny UW BY yt NR lac Bt SY 1. 74 CHLOE (CS) Bs Ea SPE aoe A dT been us FNOSDINOLUS > GE) ee ees Sear ae eee ae a AT Le gates a . 65 Ser ar (Si) ee ee ee es ee = a hae LE, 1. 58 99. 88
Reference.-—J. K. Whitfield, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 34, 1887, p. 387. CRANBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. Nos, 89, 121.
Tron, Og. Two pieces weighing 15 and 71 grams, one with troilite nodules, from iron found in 1854. CROSS ROADS, BOYETT, WILSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Nos, 163, 409.
Stone, Cg. Twelve grams from a mass weighing 161 grams, which fell May 24, 1892,
60 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
CROSS TIMBERS, RED RIVER, TEXAS. No. 95,
Tron, Om. Thirteen grams from a mass, the principal part of which, weighing 7404 kilograms, is now in the museum of Yale Uni- versity. Found about 1808.
This is historically one of the most interesting of American me- teoric irons. It was first made known to a white man (Capt. Anthony Glass) in 1808, by Indians, who seem to have regarded it with vener- ation, though apparently without recognizing its origin. In 1810 it was taken across the Brazos to the Red River and transported thence by boat to New Orleans, whence it was shipped to New York, where it passed into the possession of Col. George Gibbs and was by him deposited in trust in the museum of the New York Lyceum. After the death of Colonel Gibbs the iron was given to the museum of Yale University, Connecticut, where it still remains. Analyses by Shepard show it to consist of 90.02 of iron and 9.67 of nickel.
References.—Bruce’s Min. Journ., vol. 1, 1814, pp. 127 and 218. Shepard, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 16, 1829, p. 217. See also vol. 27, 1835, p. 382.
CUERNAVACA, MEXICO. No. 447.
Iron, Of. Irregular slice 100 by 120 by 10 mm., weighing 757 grams. CULLISON, PRATT COUNTY, KANSAS. No. 430.
Stone, Ce. Slice weighing 277 grams; mass showing original sur- face, weighing 2,340 grams (pls. 18 and 19). Weight of original mass 10.10 kilograms. Found 1911. Nothing is known regarding fall. A very dense stone, nearly black, and the metallic points scarcely visible except on polished surface. Mineral composition, olivine, orthorhombic and monoclinic pyroxenes, and fragmentary plagioclase feldspars, together with metallic iron and iron sulphide. The slice shows a nodular mass some 10 by 17 mm., composed wholly of twinned pyroxenes with a few grains of troilite. The chemical and mineral composition, as determined by Whitfield, yielded results as below:
Per cent. Mroilitet \(St)\ ee ee ee ee ee 6. 00 Metallic dron’=.20 2222 ee ee ee 19. 40 Silicate ;minerals <2 22 a eee eee eee 74. 50 Sehreibersite 222 et 22h eee eee .10
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 18
2
Two VIEWS OF THE CULLISON STONE, AS FOUND.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGE 60.
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 19
POLISHED SLICES OF THE CULLISON STONE.
FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PAGE 60.
fi
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 20
2
ETCHED SLICES OF (1) KENDALL COUNTY IRON AND (2) OF COOPERTOWN IRON.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGES 58 AND 90.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 61
The metallic portions yielded:
Per cent. Silicon (Si) _--------------------------~------------- 0. 129 Sulphur (S)---------------------------------------- Trace. Phosphorus (P)-—-------=--------—----+---=+--——--=-- 0. O71 Mieke! .ONT) col. Se ee eee ees eae 9. 207 Copalt::(Co) at Sea aiee - ee EEE eS . OT Copper (Cu) 225-22 2 = . 040 Chromium (Cr) 22222222 Se ee . 160 G@arbon (@)_222222_- 2 se eS See =- = . 088 Manganese (Mn) -----~------------=-----+------=----= . 080 Tronj, (We) 3835 22 ee 89. TOO
99. 982
No traces found of molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadium. The silicate portion yielded:
Per cent.
Sones SSO) ee ee 47. 36 PA enriain t (AUs Oe) eee 5. 67 MELTIGHOMIG@E a(HC; 03) 2 .10 Herrousioxddeu (HCO) eee ee 11. 25 Time (Ca@)) eo So ee es ee . 84 Magnesia (MgQ)-_----------------------------------- 31. 72 Manganese protoxide (MnO)___----------------------- . 36 Soda (Ne. ©)) eee ae 2. 42 Potash’. (Ks )2 222 os a eh eae . 23 USGA su TU Coos Coal CLs (LLL) 3) Year a as . 00 99. 95
Combining the metallic and nonmetallic pertions and recalculating, after making the very unsafe assumptions that the material called troilite is all the monosulphide, and that the schreibersite conforms to the formula (FeNi),P, the following figures are obtained, repre- senting the composition of the stone in mass or bulk:
Per cent. STIL sania) se ee ee 35. 30 Nima) (UNIO) ee ee eee 4, 24 AVERT Colle (ELCs Op) era een ee ee aD HeErrousnironl (CeO!) =a ase eee ee ee 8. 38 SBes Hare yn (Cs) ese ae ee ee . 62 Macnesiann @Vic @))pee aS ae eS eee 23. 631 Manganous! oxide) (Vin @)) 2 Sasiee ee . 268 Soda: GNasO)) = ee a see ee ete 1. 804 TEST ne (Cg O))) fer pi ee ee ee eligi RSE RED ERTS (Sp) ese ec 2. 184 PNOSONOCUS. (GE) ose ee ee ee . 0138 GING Claes (QING) hoe eee ee es eee ee 1. 80 Wola lt (CO) eee ee ee ee ee . 098 Coppers (OW) hae see ae . 008 @hromiunmin (Or) ene ee . 029 Carbon (C)-------------------------------------- . 017 Manganese (Mn) -_-~~-~-------------------~------—-- . 015 Qe Ges) eo eae ee eh oe 21. 270
100, 5988
62 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
None of the rarer elements sometimes reported as occurring in meteorites were found, although very carefully looked for.
Reference.—G. P. Merrill, Publ. 1952, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 44, 1913, pp. 325-330.
DALTON, WHITFIELD COUNTY, GEORGIA. Nos. 519, 520.
Tron, Om. In Museum collection, two pieces weighing 35 and 80 grams from a 13-pound mass found in 1877. In Shepard collec- tion 735.7 grams, and a larger, nearly complete individual weigh- ing 50,340 grams (111 pounds) found in 1879. Nothing definite known of date of fall, and the two irons regarded as of doubtful identity.
An analysis of a slice from the 111-pound mass yielded J. E. Whit- field :
ron w(We), 2 32 se ee ie ne ee ee eee 81. 853 INT@KOL A (ING) 2 ee ea ee a ee 7. 484 Cobalt;\(Co) 22-2 Sees aa ee Bee eee . 580 Coppers (Ct) oes ee eee ee . 017 Platinum (Et) 2422-2 ee ee ee eee Trace, MeL arn ire) ee AOR ee Ps careers . 002 SHICOMRGS 1) see Se ee ee ee ee ee . 002 Manganese (((Min) 2252 a ee ee ee ee ee None. Chromium. (Cr) = 24 ee ee ee Be eee None. Selphur (CS) =. eee eee . 025 Phosphorus (GE) see ae es ne - OSL Carbon 1G yee eas ee oS rec Aas ee eee . 006 Schreibersites = (22225 Se 2k Fo ee ae eee 10, 00 100. 000 An analysis of the same mass by Shepard yielded:
Per cent. Pron (We). 2 eo se Aa a ee a 94. 66 ING KCL (ING ec i ee A 4.80 Cobalt (Co) toe 22a ee eee . 34 99. 80
References.—W. E. Hidden, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 21, 1881, p. 287. C. U. Shepard, Amer. Jorun. Sci., vol. 26, 1883, p. 336.
DANDAPUR, GORUCKPUR, INDIA. No. 408, Stone, Cia. Two grams from a stone which fell September 5, 1878. DEEP SPRINGS, ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. No. 470.
Tron, Db. Irregular slice some 10 by 4.5 cm. and showing part of original surface. Weight, 342 grams. Weight of original mass, 11,500 grams. Is stated to have fallen in 1846 and to have buried
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 63
itself 4 or 5 feet under the surface of the ground. Analysis by Venable yielded:
Per cent.
Te S06 gl Gl EYE) pee eh ale i ge he, 87. 01 RINT GEOL * ING) eet ny Da a ct anes Rise ER PD Pe eS 11. 69 Gobale::(Go) see pe Be ee eee ol BONE 1 RUN SL . 79 EVO ST VOT US = (By) aaa rd ere ae . 04 SULT Cen Si Og) se eel ee ees alee eee eine ee de at RISE ORE . 53 Chlorine!" (Cl) LI seee oe = Se wee aa eee Soe eee eS .o9 100. 45
Reference—¥. P. Venable, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 40, 1890, p- 161. DELEGATE, NEW SOUTH WALES. No. 484.
Tron, Om. Etched slice 6 by 7 cm., weighing 200 grams. Not yet described. Gift of Department of Mines, Sydney, New South Wales.
DESCUBRIDORA, SAN LUIS POTOSI, MEXICO. Nos, 78, 469,
Tron, Om. Rectangular fragment weighing 57.4 grams, with 3 etched faces; one face marked “ Porte de aerolito del Estodo de S. Luis Potosi caido en el anno de 1871”; another marked “A Ulisis S. Grant.” Received by the museum with the relics of President Grant. Also a triangular slice 34 by 25 cm. weighing 2,822 grams. These are from a mass weighing 576 kilograms now in the National Museum of Mexico. It is regarded by Fletcher as identical with the mass described by J. L. Smith under the name of “ Venajas.” Date of fall unknown. Said to have been found in 1780-1783. Chemical compo- sition as determined by P. Murphy:
Per cent.
Romie (CN @) eae: a ae Ee ee ee 89. 51 INtelelen (ING) Aes See SE at Re 8. 05 GUC} Hall tian (Cy) Fes ee ah Se 1. 94 SS eriL Tn RasUg TS (SS) eee gS Pe ee .45 Ta TOT TT Ta Oi) aa a Trace. 99. 95
References.—L.. Fletcher, On the Mexican meteorites, Min. Mag., vol. 9, 1890, p. 66. M. Barcena, On certain Mexican meteorites, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1876, p. 123.
DHURMSALA, KANGRA, PUNJAUB, INDIA, Nos, 82, 498,
Stone, Ci. Fragments from interior weighing 32 and 43 grams, Fell July 14, 1860. Original weight approximately 145 kilograms, in form of several large masses. A gray, compact stone, to the naked eye indistinctly chondritic and showing no metallic points; faintly
64 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
rust spotted. Composition, according to analysis by C. T. Jackson, as follows:
Per cent.
Silica (SiO2) with traces of tin oxide (SnO-.)—-~--_-_- 40. 00 Maonesia: (MeO) 2 ee ee 26. 60 Merrous oxide (WeQ@))_ => 2 een eee eee 27. 70 Tron; (Ne) 22222234552 a ee eee 3. 50 INiekel } (Ni) 22225 Seb oe ee . 80 Alumina: «(Al2,03) 2:2. 2 es ee ee eee . 40 Chiorine(@l) 22. 2 ae ee oe . 049 99. 049
This fall was remarkable from the fact that fragments picked up immediately after the fall were stated to have been so cold as to benumb the fingers, although but a moment before they had been glowing hot.
References.—C. T. Jackson, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 8, 1861, p. 233; S. Haughton, Philos. Mag., vol. 32, 1866, p. 266.
DJATI-PENGILON, DISTRICT OF NGAWI, JAVA. No, 114.
Stone, Ck. Rectangular fragment with crust, weighing 469 grams. Weight of original mass, 166 kilograms. Fell March 19, 1884. Com- position according to analysis of Verbeek and Retgers:
Per cent. Silicara(Si@s) =a abe ee ee 56. 61 AT uTmin a! (CAI Os) oe ee eee ee Suite Merrous: oxide ((WeOQ)\e5421 = Ate eet Eee 16. 04 Manganous, oxides (Mn) === Trace. Wimen(Ca@) 2202) se eee ln D pe ee 3. 00 IMereesiete (VE ©) eee ee eee ee ee 19.52 Potash (20) ee a ee eee 07 Sadai(Na:@) 23222 eee Bee oe eit eee se a 1.15 TOT ACen) ee . 24 100.38
From this the mineral composition was calculated as: Per cent. TG Cel qe) enn oa) te te es eee eS 21.3 Trontsulphidel see eee anh: Olivine 224s Pe ee ee A ee ee 33. 4 IBrOnzite se Se en ee ee 39. 0 Ghromi tes es 2 ee eee al: 98.9
The nickel-iron consists of 88.68 iron, 10.78 nickel, and 0.54 cobalt ; the iron sulphide consists of iron 63.64 and sulphur 36.36, which is the composition of troilite. This is claimed to be the first accurate de- termination of this form of the sulphide in a stony meteorite.
Gift of Government of Netherlands.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 65
Reference.—Daubrée, Compt. Rend., vol. 105, 1887, p. 203. Ab- stract in Neues Jahrb. fiir Min., vol. 2, 1888, p. 39. DORES DOS CAMPOS, FORMOSOS NEAR UBERABA, MINAS GERAES, BRAZIL. No. 487,
Stone, Cka. A fragment with crust, weighing 65 grams, from a fall aggregating 30 to 40 kilograms, which took place June 29, 1908. It is described by Hussak as a veined kugeln-chondrite consisting of bronzite, olivine, nickel-iron, troilite, and a little glass. Apparently has not been analyzed.
Reference.—K. Hussak, Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus., vol. 19, 1904, p. 85.
DORONINSK, DAURIA, IRKUTSK, SIBERIA, No. 181, Stone, Cgb. Fragment of 7.7 grams; fell April 6, 1805.
DRAKE CREEK, NEAR NASHVILLE, DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE,
Stone, Cwa. 28-gram fragment with dull black papillated crust.
Fell May 9, 1827. DURUMA, MOMBAS, WANIKALAND, EAST AFRICA. No, 216. Stone, Cia. Fragment weighing 1.5 grams. Fell March 6, 1853. EAGLE STATION, CARROLL COUNTY, KENTUCKY, Nos. 155, 275.
Stony-iron, Pallasite (Rockiky group of Brezina). ‘Two slices of 36 and 189 grams, respectively. Found in 1880. Date of fall un- known. Original weight, 36.5 kilograms. This meteorite belongs to an interesting group, of which but 3 representatives are known. They consist of more or less fragmental, often sharply angular oli- vines bound together by metallic nickel-iron and schreibersite. The mineral and chemical composition as given by Kunz is:
Per cent. Troms. (CHG) = eS ee eae 2 ES ee ileutes TINGT GBC Hai (ON TN) seat ses ha eae as 14. 37 Oa tee (C0) ee ee ee eee a ee ees ee . 95 PhOSphoOnus GP) ae sae Be eee aS ee ee eS 05 COTS Eh) 8 RE ee Pa SSS eh RU a Hel ete Chromite_—2--——--- eee ee . 90
99. 12
The 36-gram slice the gift of George F. Kunz. Reference.—G. F. Kunz, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 83, 1887, p. 228. ELBOGEN, BOHEMIA, AUSTRIA. No. 309.
Iron,Om. Weight, 71 grams. Prismatic piece some 60 by 16 by 11 mm. Date of fall unknown, perhaps 1400; preserved at the Rathhaus in Elbogen for centuries; first mentioned in 1785 and described as a meteorite in 1812. Original weight, 107 kilograms. Analysis by Berzelius yielded: Iron, 88.23; nickel, 8.51; imsoluble, 2.2115; cobalt, 0.762.
Reference.—See Wiilfing, p. 111.
5692°—Bull. 94—16—_5
66 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. EL CAPITAN, EL CAPITAN MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO. Nos. 169, 209, 345,
Tron, Om. Fragment showing cleavage, weighing 66 grams; slice 20 by 11 by 2 em. weighing 753 grams, and end mass 20 by 10 by 5 em. weighing 4 kilograms. Weight of original mass, 27,500 grams (about 61 pounds). Found in July, 1898, and supposed to have fallen in 1882. Structure is octahedral with broad bands of kamacite. Analy- sis by H. N. Stokes yielded:
Per cent.
Tron, (We) 222203 2 ee ee ee eee 90. 51 Nic@kelGNni)) 2083 fe ho a Sh a eee oe 8. 40 Cobalt..(Co) 2222222. 222222 pea IE A See eee . 60 Copper (CW) 2222 ee ee ee ae hee eee . 05 Silicoms@S 1) eee ee eee eee Trace. Phosphorus-(R) 2) 3 —————————————EE . 24 Sour po Tans ((S ee a a Trace. 99. 80
Sixty-six gram piece, gift of C. R. Biederman; 753-gram piece, gift of Edward EK. Howell. Reference-—K. KE. Howell, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 50, 1895, p. 253.
ELM CREEK, LYON COUNTY, KANSAS. No. 371.
Stone, CcO. Fragment weighing 1,120 grams. Found May, 1906. Date of fall unknown. <A dark gray, compact stone showing numer- ous small points of metal on polished surface, and indistinct chon- drules. Consists of the silicates olivine, and orthorhombic and mono- clinic pyroxenes, and nickel-iron. Analysis by Whitfield yielded:
Metallic portion, 6.82; silicate portion, 93.18.
The metal yielded: Iron, 87.18; nickel, 11.80; cobalt, 1.42; man- ganese, 0.15.
The silicate portion yielded: Silica, 36.76; alumina, 3.10; ferric oxide, 13.23; ferrous oxide, 14.22; chromic oxide, 0.35; lime, 1.62; magnesia, 25.66; water, 5.10.
Recalculated, the following results are obtained to show the bulk or mass composition of the stone:
Per cent. Silica \(SiOs)0 a a ek eee eee 34. 25 (Alumina (Als Os) 2 ee ee sh a a ee 2.89 Herrieoxide.(He.03)) 228 so vee le ee eee 12732 MEECOUS ORAS» (HOO!) ete el ee oes eh 13.25 Ghromicioxide?(@r0,) eee ee ee eee . 026 Lime (CaO) 2 ee ae a ee ee ee ee 1. 509 Mialemesi ay (ic @)) a eee a ee eee 23. 909 Trom (We) 2 ee ee ee ee 5. 94 INICkKele (NE) 22 ke Ses eae ae eee UG Cobalt (Gap kee ee a PS A . 09 Manganese (( Mm) 2 ft Shake heel ee eee Pa eee 01 Volatile (HO) "( 2) 22-2 See ee ee ee Eee eee 4.75
100. 014
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 67
References—K. Howard, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 23, 1907, p. 379. George P. Merrill, Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. 14, 1916, p. 10.
EL NAKHLA EL BAHARIA, EGYPT. No. 426,
Stone, A. Fell June 28, 1911. Two stones, one a nearly complete individual, with black, shining crust, weighing 117 grams, and one fragment weighing 52 grams. About 40 stones fell, weighing col- lectively nearly 10 kilograms, scattered over an area of some 44 kilo- meters in diameter. Of peculiar interest, as this is the first recorded Egyptian fall. The stone is further unique in mineral and chemical composition, consisting mainly of green diopside and olivine. (See pl. 8, fig. 1.) The chemical composition as given by Prior is:
Per cent.
Site GST Os) eee aE ee ey ES eas SO 48. 96 DWM atea ri Clea GLC OT Oy) eee ee ee ee .38 PAM TITT UN Loy (CAT Op) eee ee ee ee eee 1. 74 @ihromicroxide .(CrOs) ss es aS eS eae oe I PETLCrOxIde: (es On) ee ee ee ee 1.29 MErEOUStOXIGd eC HCO) = 2 ee 19. 63 Manganous.Oxi de) (Vin 0) ee ee a ee eee eee . 09 HME nN (OAO)) tae see ee ee ee ee yy. NaeTiIeSstame (MESO) eee Se ee 12. 01 Soda 1GINas ©) ae ee ee ee ae 41 TEES at (TEGO) he ee ee a ee . 14 ASST TIT pe Ee cS) ee ee ee . 06 NVR OT Mel pailed (ppeeee ee ee tee rere ees ee eee . 07 100. 28
Specific gravity, 3.47.
No barium, strontium, or zirconium detected.
Gift of Geological Survey of Egypt.
Reference.—G. T. Prior, Min. Mag., vol. 16, 1912, p. 274.
EMMITSBURG, FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND. Nos. 279, 414,
Iron, Om. Two pieces, weighing 7 and 14 grams from a mass the original weight of which is not known, and of which only 177 grams appear to be now in existence. Found in 1854.
ENSISHEIM, UPPER ALSACE, GERMANY. No. 506.
Stone, Ckb. A 200-gram fragment, with crust, from a stone which fell on November 16, 1492, and is believed to be the oldest known meteoric stone extant. Fletcher refers to it in his “ Introduction to the study of meteorites” (edition of 1908, p. 19) as follows:
The oldest undoubted sky-stone still preserved is that which was long sus- pended by a chain from the vault of the choir of the parish church of En- sisheim in Elsass, and is now kept in the Rathhaus of that town. The follow- ing is a translated extract from a document which was preserved in the church:
On the 16th of November, 1492, a singular miracle happened, for between 11 and 12 in the forenoon, with a loud crash of thunder and a prolonged noise
68 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
heard afar off, there fell in the town of Ensisheim a stone weighing 260 pounds. It was seen by a child to strike the ground in a field near the canton called Gisgaud, where it made a hole more than five feet deep. It was taken to the church as being a miraculous object. The noise was heard so distinctly at Lueerne, Villing, and many other places that in each of them it was thought that some houses had fallen. King Maximilian, who was then at Ensisheim, had the stone carried to the castle. After breaking off two pieces, one for the Duke Sigismund of Austria and the other for himself, he forbade further damage, and ordered the stone to be suspended in the parish church.
The stone is stated to have remained in the church until the French Revolution. Since then it has been frequently broken, and accord- ing to F. Crook, writing in 1868, but 40 or 50 kilograms remained. The fragments have been widely distributed and only a little over 70 kilograms are accounted for by Wiilfing.
According to Crook’s determinations, the stone consists of:
Per cent.
Tron monosulphide@s 22-2 eee 5. 642 TEC Ge el hn a ee Se LE SOY 243 @hromiite! ae ee ee ee . 600 SrTCRtes tet a ee eee 84. 079 99. 564
The mass or bulk composition as recalculated by Farrington from this analysis is:
Per cent.
ST ean CSS 1 Oh) eae a 36. 65 SAT (CANS Og) eee ee ee ee Doll Herrous=oxide. (hcO) 22 eee 34. 19 Marcnesia:) (MeO) 222s eee ee 13513 aime (@a ©) 2 see ee ae eee 1. 78 Soday (Na: ©) ee ee . 38 Potash) (kGO) ee a eee ae AU Ty) a 8. 00 Nickela (Ni) = Sees eo a ee eee 1.20 Sulphur: (S)) pos eee ee ee 2. 05 PHOSPHOLUS eC) ee ee eee 1.01 Ghromie! oxide 7(CriOg)\ it ee ee ee 41 Manganous oxide) (MnQ) S22 25)-— sae 'e2 es Sn 2ee= fei. 101. 57
Reference-—¥. Crook, On the chemical constitution of the Ensis- heim, Mauerkirchen, Shergotty, and Muddoor meteoric stones, In- augural Dissertation, Gottingen, 1868, p. 21.
ERGHEO, SOMALILAND, AFRICA. No. 320.
Stone, Ckb. Fragment weighing 416 grams. Fell July, 1889. Total weight of fall, 20.375 kilograms. A compact, dark gray stone composed principally of olivine and a rhombic pyroxene with minor
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 69
quantities of troilite, nickel-iron, magnetite glass, and maskelynite. Chemical composition (analysis recalculated in part) :
Per cent
AUER Ts (CER) a a ee es 0. 57 Nrekel-and cobalt (NE and: Co) 22222 midi Werrous. saipniae (Wes yee ene ek ee 9. 48 Siliieave, (SiO 3) a2 eek SO en col hie EE ec ee es eee 42. 55 errous| oxider(e@) ta ae. eee ee ae 17.13 PANT UTTAT TD ea (Als Op) Ree ee ee ee ee eee es Dee Bes (Cea) ) ee a se nae eee nes eS ee Ce ee ee lO Malomesia’ (Mig@)) par eta ne nes Oe ee eee 26. 14 Potash and soda (K2O*and Na2O) ~-=_--------------_-- .12 99. 40
Reference.—E. Artini and G. Melzi, Esplorazione Commerciale, December, 1898.
ESTACADO, CROSBY COUNTY, TEXAS. Nos. 372, 462.
Stone, Cka. Polished slab 26 by 38 em., weighing 5.45 kilograms, or 12 pounds, and slab weighing 476 grams. Weight of original mass, about 290 kilograms, or 638 pounds, and hence exceeding in size any known stony meteorites. Found in 18838 and supposed to have fallen the year previous. Composition as shown by Davison’s analysis :
¢ Per cent. ATryn (CEG) vin ee ae a ee ea aS 14. 68 NIT GLEN) fee eae ee aed ae ek hod 1. 60 Cobalt (Co) ete ee see rel op ae ee ee . 08 GOP EE COL) ee ee ae eS een See eee ee Trace. Carbon (C) found, but not determined. SU le CS ese ee es ee Perk Sehnert, 1.37 PHOSPHOMIS HCE es 2 oe eC fa ae WD . Silica (SiOz) eee Se Ss ee ae eee ee 35. 82 HMEEROUS OXI en (CHEO)) Ese Sie oe See ee ee ees Laos VT SAIN STA (IN Tee U0) ) re tere ote ne cee Pe eee ee 22, 74 TTT N iy CO) i a ap a op a gl a od ph ea eee 2. 99 PANT ugar ir ea a (PANG Che) ice rh nes ee de 3. 60 BS GEN (ING Oi ree ae ea ar ae tne aren, ee Seen Pal OF ( POtaS I CISSO)) Ne Ba 2 A 2 BA OE A ee RS noe Titanie oxide (TiO.) found, but not determined. Chromie oxide (Cr:0O3) found, but not determined. Manganous oxide (MnO) found, but not determined. 100. 95 INS OD eT COTE ee a Fae ree ae ee ree . 68 100. 27
The mineral composition was found to be: Metallic, 16.41; silicates, 83.59, being mainly olivine and enstatite. Chromite and pyrrhotite are also present in small quantities.
70 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
The 12-pound piece gift of Mrs. Coonley- Ward.
Reference—Howard and Davison, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 22, 1906, p. 55.
ESTHERVILLE, EMMET COUNTY, IOWA. Nos. 12-15, 38, 425.
Stony-iron, M. Forty-five nodular pieces weighing all together 478 grams; one of these, No. 18, weighing 82 grams, the original speci- men examined by Dr. J. L. Smith. Total weight of known material, 337 kilograms. Fall occurred about 5 p.m. on May 10, 1879, under a clear sky. In some places the meteorite was plainly visible, looking like a ball of fire, with a long train of vapor or cloud of fire behind it. One observer saw it at a distance of 100 miles from where it fell. The sounds produced were described as terrible and “indescribable,” as scaring cattle, and terrifying people over an area many miles in di- ameter. At first these sounds were louder than that of the largest artillery. These were followed by a rumbling noise, as of a train of cars crossing a bridge. The concussion, when it struck the ground, was sensible to many persons, and it is reported that the soil was thrown into the air at the edge of a ravine where the largest masses struck. There were distinctly two explosions—the first at a con- siderable height, whereby several large fragments were projected to different points over an area of 4 square miles. The second explosion occurred just before reaching the ground and accounts for the numer- ous small fragments. The largest fragment, weighing 437 pounds, embedded itself 8 feet in a stiff blue clay. In all 744 pounds, or 33 kilograms. The irregular structure of this meteorite makes any at- tempt at mass analyses unsatisfactory. J. lL. Smith found its mineral composition to be olivine, pyroxene, nickel-iron, troilite and chromite, and an undetermined silicate.
Nos. 12 to 15 gift of Mr. Charles P. Birge; No. 425 from the G. F. Barker estate.
Reference.—J. L. Smith, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 19, 1880, p. 459.
FARMINGTON, WASHINGTON COUNTY, KANSAS. No. 352.
Stone, Csa. Fragment, with crust on one side. Weight, 204 grams. A dark gray compact stone which fell June 25, 1890; two stones weighing, respectively, 4 and 80 kilograms, the larger of which pene- trated the hard shaly earth to a depth of nearly 4 feet. An analysis by L. G. Eakins shows the stone to consist of :
Per cent.
ING e@Keleir OM) 2 ese eco SN a ae ene em isall Troimite=2- 22 See ee ee ee, ee LES Fen A 5.0 Silicates soluble in HCl (olivine) _——_----___ Ri Oe SA 46.0 Silicates insoluble in HCl (mostly pyroxene) —-------____ 41.5 100. 2
Reference.—Kunz and Weinschenk, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 43, 1892, p- 65.
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 21
2
(1) FELIX STONE; (2) THE THIRD LARGEST STONE OF THE FISHER FALL.
FOR DESCRIPTIONS SEE PAGES 71 AND 72.
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, TE FELIX, PERRY COUNTY, ALABAMA. No. 235,
Stone, Ce. Weight, 1,208 grams. Principal mass with thin black crust on all sides but one. . (See plate 21.) Fell about 11.30 a. m. on May 15,1900. Weight of original mass, so far as known, 2,049 grams. Flight was from east toward the west. First explosion a “ very loud report, followed by two lesser ones, the appearance being compared to that of a big pan of red-hot iron being struck with a hammer, caus- ing many sparks to fly in all directions.” While in the air the stone broke into three pieces, of which but one, the largest, was found. Composition :
Per cent. InOnM( He) eee 2. 59 INGE Ian (NI) pee en eee eee 06 : d ogee I 08 Metallic portion, Copper (Cn) .O1 Sina (SiO) eS ee Son ont PITS PAds Os) eee 3. 24 @hromic oxide’ (Cri@;)io2== == = . 80 Ferrous oxide (FeO) __-------------- 26. 22 Ferrous sulphide (eS) —------------ 4. 76 Manganous oxide (MnQ)—----------- . 68 Nickel and cobalt oxides (NiO and x y PA cen ia, Guba 50 wate. 1.01 Stony portion. AUos Lr te (0) AO) eae 5. 45 Magnesia (MgQO)-—--_______----____-_ 19. 74 RO TtAs He (ic @) eee nee ee 14 Saray (NAO) ee eo ee 02 Carboni (©)n (graphite) 223232 eee . 36 Fenition (enO)yatiO: 2 ee .16 99. 79 Mineral composition: Per cent. We tele et nen ee ee ee eee 3. 04 IANO Thom ee ee ees ak Ue Se ee 4.76 GHEOM tee ee ate L gi Graphite.__________=____--------+-—_---—------------ oO Soluble silicate (olivine in part) ~----------~--------- 72. 60 Insoluble silicate (enstatite and augite in part) ------- 18. 07 100. 00
Specific gravity, 3.78.
Structure chondritic, tufaceous; color, dark, smoky gray.
Reference.—George P. Merrill, On a new stony meteorite which fell near Felix, Perry County, Alabama, May 15, 1900. Proc. U. 8S. Nat. Mus., vol. 24, 1901, pp. 198-198.
FINMARKEN, NORWAY. No. 329.
Stony-iron, Pallasite. Slice 10 by 17 cm., weighing 595 grams. Found in 1902. Date of fall unknown. Weight of original mass, 77.5 kilograms, or 1704 pounds.
12 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Reference-—E. Cohen, Mitth. naturwiss. Ver. Neu-Vorpommern u. Riigen, vol. 35, 1903.
FISHER, POLK COUNTY, MINNESOTA. No. 212,
Stone, Cia. Nearly complete individual weighing 1.30 kilograms. Fell April 9, 1894 (pl. 21, fig. 2). Four stones known to have fallen, the largest being broken up and scattered. The second largest weighed 94 pounds and is in the museum of the University of Minnesota. A compact, light gray stone, thickly spotted with metallic points and light gray and white chondrules. Chemical analysis by J. E. Whit- field, yielded:
Per cent. Metallic constituents S222 Wo) sa eS a 11. 44 Silieate constituents ss. = eine ee ee 88. 56 The silicate portion yielded: Bate SilicarGSi@ 3) sae Sea ee en a ee oe ae ee 43. T0 AT una (CATS O pg) see FE ahd Re ee ee 4,96 Herrous. oxide (MeO) 22 kee ee es et ees 18. 27 Manganous, oxide :GMin@)) = eae ee ee eee . 39 INICKEIFOXIGe: CNTO)) see ee ee a ee i a eo MimMeK (SAO) ae aha Cae ok ee a fart eS ne Ys 2.19 Magnesia (MgQ@) 2 02 2 eee ofA! “at 0 ae ae 29.3 Chromite (FeOCr.0;)~-____________ ae SST gia ee ee . 80 99. 91
The chromium present is tabulated as chromite, as it occurs as such in the stone.
The metallic portion freed from the last trace of siliceous matter contained :
Per cent.
Ds TN SCG) sae aa a eee 85. 00 Niekel CNG) 2h se eB eae SS FL ee 14. 15 Cobalt: (C0) esas aaa a a ies eee 5 ee . 74 Copper (Cu)jS0 Se ee en ee Trace. 99. 89
On recalculating, these figures give the bulk or mass composition of the stone as follows:
Per cent. Silica g(SiQ;) 2222 = ae Se ee ee 38. 699 Alumina s(A1sOs)'20 3. 2 2" oe ee eee 4, 240 Herrous oxides (heO) 2222 ae ee ee ee 16. 179 Manvanous oxide*(Mn)))23 2222 Se eee . 336 Nickel oxide “CNi@ ic. 22 eee ee ee ee et . 200 Lime '\(CaQ) bine) 24. es Ph eee Se 1. 939 Magnesia’ (MeO) 2222225 eee ee 26. 018 Chromite. (PeOCr.0:) 222 ee ee . TOS Tron (We)22 22 232 Bee eee eee aa 9. 724 INiekel. (Ni) 22.2 5 ee ee ee 1. 608 Cobalt COO yaa Ss a ae oe ee ee . O84
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 73
with traces of sulphur and soda but none of barium, strontium, zir- conium, or potassium.
Reference.—George P. Merrill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 48, 1915, pp. 503-506.
FLOYD MOUNTAIN, INDIAN VALLEY, VIRGINIA. No. 323,
Tron, Hb. Etched slice 15 by 9 em. Weight 569 grams. Found 1887. Date of fall unknown. Weight of original mass 14.2 kilo- grams, or 81} pounds. A coarsely granular, brecciated hexahedrite, of which but 8 representatives have thus far been described. Com- position as determined by L. C. Eakins:
Per cent.
ATGHS TNE ( (LA) eee een, eee aes 2 ee eae ee ee 98. 59 BINT 2 Yecee aa SIN ) pcarse ee rs a ee 2 Ee Eevee 5. 56 Canali (Co) si eee Sk ee a ee . 53 CSOT peep (Ce) aaa ee ee Net Trace. EATOS TLL OU US (Gg) eee ene ne eee eee ae Sait SulphumrteS ie oe ee ee Ae ee Sees Or SUT COT Gi) ea oes ee ee es eset Eee es |. Trace. 99. 96
Reference—Kunz and Weinschenk, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 43, 1892, p. 424.
FOREST CITY, WINNEBAGO COUNTY, IOWA. Nos. 157, 158, 166, 167, 338.
Stone, Ccb. Nine fragments and more or less complete individuals weighing 35, 42, 45, 83, 150, 248, 257, 297, and 1,074 grams. Fell May 2, 1890. The shower comprised five large stones weighing, re- spectively, 4, 4, 10, 66, and 80 pounds, and over 500 small stones weighing from a fraction of 1 to 20 ounces. Total weight, so far as known, 122 kilograms, 37 grams. Chemical analysis by L. C. Eakins yielded :
Per cent.
Air? Tha (GHC) eee 2 aw a ee Se ee eae ee See 18. 076 UNI GETS kHINTE) fo9 22s ae 20 EIS A ae OP eve RS 1. 192 Go aE (Cs) ee hia es eS ee Le Ne el a Par Herrous; solphides (HieS)) estes eee ee ee ee 6. 189 RL Sa CST Os) fe ie cies ay 2 pa ee 35. 622 PAS inant (CAMS Os) ea IS eek cece Lee 2. 082 Chromic oxide @r Oy) ee ea ee ee ey . 096 OMT OTS C1 ariel Ce))) nee ee 5 eee 2 A a IE ns Eek 10. 248 Neg (CaO) ees ieee a ek Sen ye a ea ae 1. 415 Mc sie (NTO) oy cs hg ee a OS a 23. 938 PO hers hia CiNe(@)) ee eres Th, Slee vs ee cs eRe . O56 me paAMe Wrst ©) pias eres as IN Sei ba! gl US cae) ea ab . 812 99. 858
The 45-gram piece, gift of J. P. Dolliver; the 83-gram, of George F. Kunz.
74 BULLETIN 9%, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Reference—G. F. Kunz, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 40, 1890, pp. 312- 323.
FORT DUNCAN, MAVERICK COUNTY, TEXAS. No, 448.
Tron, H. A 258-gram fragment, some 65 by 100 by 18 mm., by some supposed to be identical with the Coahuila. —
FRANCEVILLE, EL PASO COUNTY, COLORADO. No. 328.
Tron, Om. Etched slab, 18 by 10 em., weighing 300 grams. Found in 1890. Date of fall unknown. Weight of original mass, 18.3 kilo- grams, or 41 pounds, 6$ ounces. Partial analysis by Davison yielded:
Ke co ‘jj Cs Fe, 91.92; Ni, 8.18. Taenite
Schreibersite, 0.837. Platinum, traces.
Reference.—H. L. Preston, Journ. Geol., vol. 10, 1902, p. 852.
FUKUTOMI, KINEJIMA, HIZEN, JAPAN. No. 1138.
Stone, Cga. Weight. 9.7 grams. Fell on March 19, 1882, at 1 p. m. Original weight, 7,680 grams. Gift of Educational Museum of Tokyo, Japan.
GARGANTILLO (TOMATLAN) JALISCO, MEXICO. No. 40.
Stone, Ce. Fragment weighing 4 grams, from the interior. Exact date of fall not known—either August or September, 1879.
GIBEON (MUKEROP), GREAT NAMAQUALAND, SOUTHWEST AFRICA. No. 330.
Tron, Off. Etched slab 25 by 70 em., weighing 14.32 kilograms, or 31.5 pounds (see pl. 22). From a mass weighing 178 kilograms, found in 1899. The cross section, as etched, shows three zones of crystallization, as though three differently oriented masses had been welded together. A chemical analysis by O. Hillebrand yielded:
Per cent.
tron’. (He) ft Ss see ee 90. 96 Nickel (CN1) 2 eee 8.19 Cobalin(Co) sat ee ee ee ee . 46 Copper {CC ee ee ee ee . 04 Garbon XC@) sate Ft Se ee ee ee eee aO2 Chromigmn H6Cr) ee Ae ae ee ee . 02 Ghlorine GCM) es Ss ee eee 01 Sulphur (S) se 2222 2522 s2ch Se Ss ee ee eee Trace. Phosphorus \(@2 ye eee 0.18 Residues oe Se eee . 01 99. 89
Reference—A. Brezina and E. Cohen, Jahr. Ver. Vaterl. Naturk. in Wiirttemberg, vol. 58, 1902, p. 292.
BULLETIN 94 PL. 22
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
ETCHED SLICE OF GIBEON (MUKEROP) IRON.
FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PAGE 74,
re
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. 75 GILGOIN STATION NO, 1, NEAR BREWARRINA, NEW SOUTH -WALES. No. 288.
Stone, Ck. Weight, 290 grams. Fragment with polished surface and crust. Date of fall unknown. Found 1889. Weight of original mass about 30} kilograms, or 674 pounds. .A compact chondritic stone composed essentially of olivines and enstatites with metallic iron and iron sulphide. The most striking feature is the abundance of small, wavy, nearly parallel fracture lines, which may have been produced by impact with the earth, or by shearing stresses in the mass itself. Analysis by A. Liversidge yielded:
Magnetic portion: Per cent. TSO HOLE wim ERO oo eae ee ee ee 1. 5074 icone ete lies eee es eS ee ee 82. 4581 ents Ds eh RENE cnet Dey ates oe apr GM 8. 8451 Cobalt Sulphur__---------------------------------------- Trace Phosphorus —------- ------------------------------ None Oxygen and undetermined____---_-_--------------- 7. 6924
100. 00
Nonmagnetie portion (dried at 105°=0.349 per cent of moisture) :
Per cent.
Silica (SiO:)_--------------------+------—--------- 42. 690 Werrous oxide (MeO) —-2—-=2--=———_--====+-_=$=---___ 12. 665 Menricroxidew GMC: Os) 6. 698 Alumina’ (AIO; ) 220-222 eS = Se -3-—— 4. 980 INW@kels (UNI) se ee ee ee . 280 Cobalt (Co) _2---==----=~-—--—-==--—-_-_______-_-__— None, Manganese (Mn) ------------.--------------------- Traces. Westra (al @))) eee ee 17550 Magnesia (MgO) --------------------------------- 12, 661 SOc ag O)) eee ee eee ee ee . 744 ED TEAS aTe (ORG OD) eee a eee ee . 104 Sulphur (S)-..----------------------------------- Zoo Chicrine!| (Cl) 2 None. Phosphorus (2) 22-2222. — . 135 101. 022
Less oxygen equivalent to sulphur and phos-
NOR Se ee ee 1. 267
99. 755
Reference.—A. Liversidge, Journ. Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, vol. 36, 1908, p. 352.
GILGOIN STATION NO, 2, NEAR BREWARRINA, NEW SOUTH WALES. No. 465.
Stone, Ck. Mass with three surfaces sawn and one broken. Weight, 1,299 grams. Found February 8, 1893, about 2 miles south of Gilgoin No. 1, and regarded as part of the same fall. Weight of original mass 33% kilograms, or 744 pounds.
Reference.—A. Liversidge, Journ. Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, vol. 36, 1903, p. 354.
76 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
GILGOIN STATION NO. 7, NEAR BREWARRINA, NEW SOUTH WALES. No. 509. Stone, Ck. Rough, oxidized fragment. Weight, 155 grams. Gift of J. C. H. Mingaye.
GIRGENTI, SICILY. No. 378.
Stone, Cwa. Fragment with crust, weighing 99 grams. Fell Feb- ruary 10, 1853. Weight of original mass some 3 or 4 kilograms. History very incomplete. Analysis yielded:
Per cent. Silica -(S81O3)\2 S22 228 er ee ee eee eee Om Sit Aduming \GAILOs) i228 22. See ee ee ee 1. 44 Ferrous; oxide. (He). 2s sae eae 16. 47 Magnesia. (MeO) 22222 aos ee eee 24. 61 ime? (CaQ@) a2 ssa eae ee ee ee 1. 696 Soda (Nas ©)) 2 ee oe naa ee ee ae eee eee 10375 Tron’ (We) a2 2 ee oe ee ee 10. 381 INiGiel -(NG-) tes se os ad 1. 054 Scot (Sa a ee se ee ese 2. 054
98. 89 Chroniite: 2 4. Stes Oo ee aT hee Paes 3s Pe AO
99. 99
Reference-—G. Vom Rath, Pogg. Ann., vol. 138, 1869, p. 541, GLORIETA MOUNTAIN, SANTA FE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO. No. 47.
Tron, Om. Weight, 380 grams. Polished slab 18.3 by 6.6 em. Date of fall unknown. Found August 9, 1884. The original find con- sisted of three masses weighing, respectively, 67.85 kilograms (1484 pounds), 52.38 kilograms (115 pounds), and 24.263 kilograms °(534 pounds). Later four smaller pieces were found, of which one has disappeared. The three remaining weighed 837 kilograms (744 pounds). The fragments were regarded by Kunz as originally por- tions of one mass, which, however, was disrupted on striking and not in mid-air. The composition of the iron, as a whole, as determined by Eakins, is as follows:
Per cent.
Tron, iC eC) acs ee ee a eee 88. 76
INiGk ele (INT) Se ee Soe SO ee ee 9. 86
Cobalt) ((Co):.13- 0. et es ee eee ok Copper (Cw): 2222622 eee eee . 034 Finer (AN) ee oo ee ee eee . 030 Chromiitim 4(.Gr) p22 oo ee Trace Manganese’ (Mn))2=-=- 32 3-2 eee Trace Carbon’: \(C) ete 2 ee eet ee see 0. 410 * ., Phosphorus,{(P)32325 bene eS ee . 182 Sulphur. (S)\ 2-22: 22-222 eee . 012 Silicon: (St)2s22 22322) 2k ee ee ee . 044
99. 842
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS. ei
Subsequent determinations by Whitfield failed to show any traces of zinc.
Cohen and Weinschenk examined this iron and found it to con- sist of:
Per cent.
Wickel-Inon 2 ee 83. 30 MUNG UAE) a2 reve PB aa EN ee 4, 35 Sehreib erst Gees Via ee ee ee eS RA Ee 7. 87 BR g TN a CHS a A cee os nan RD NR 4, 22 SOROS Es 2 > sc eae eS ER ee ee le Pee oe .18 @arbonacecousvmattens es eee eee Se ens . 08 100. 00
References.—George F. Kunz, The meteorites from Glorieta Moun- tain, Santa Fe County, New Mexico. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., vol. 3, 1885, pp. 329-3834. E. Cohen and E. Weinschenk, Meteoreisen Studien, 18, Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus., vol. 6, 1891, p. 155.
GRAND RAPIDS (WALKER TOWNSHIP), KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN. No. 31.
Iron, Of. Etched slice 16 by 11 cm., weighing 1,205 grams, and one 13 by 11 em., weighing 966 grams. Found in 1883. Nothing known regarding fall. Analysis by R. B. Riggs yielded:
Per cent.
Tron GH ei. 2 ee Se a ee ee 88. T1 INT G Ice lies GIN) ee 2 see ee ee Se ee a ee 10. 69 Copper (Cw) i 2a see Ee ee Poe ee ee ee . O07 Nao neSiUM a (Mig) ee ee Se See eee . 02 Phosphorus: (P)2 eases AE ee eae ee . 26 Sulphur (80/22 2so = ee ee ee Re Se oe oe nOS Carbon (C):- (combined) ae ee ee . 06 Graphite22222 ee ee eee a ee eee 07 99. 91
Gift of J. G. Pulcher. References.—R. B. Riggs, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 30, 1885, p. 312; Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. 42, 1887, p. 94.
GREENBRIER COUNTY, 3 MILES NORTH OF WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA. No, 118.
Tron, Og. Eleven grams from a mass weighing some 11 pounds, found in 1880.
GROSNAJA (MIKENSKOI), RIVER TEREK, CAUCASUS, RUSSIA. No. 138,
Stone, Cs. Weight, 43 grams. Fell June 28, 1861.
78 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
GROSSLIEBENTHAL, NEAR ODESSA, CHERSON, RUSSIA. No, 511.
Stone, Cwa. Fragment from interior wéighing 10 grams, from a mass weighing 8,048 grams which fell on the 19th of November, 1881. The composition is given as follows:
Per cent.
ELVsTroOsecopic, water... ee eee AG Silica, (¢SiO3):=2-. == = ee eee 39. 57 Maenesia. (MeO) = ee eee 22. 97 ime, (CaO) 22 See eee eee eee 2. 28 Merrous oxide (He@) 22.302 Sa eee eee 13. 44 Manzanousi oxide (Mn Q@) 22 ea eae 93 Alaina (GAdsOs)ao oo Se ee 2. 45 SodalgeGNasOiy 5 so Se se ee 1.30 Potash: (Kk @) eo ae2 Ss Ea ee ete ee 45 Iron Sulphide: (We: S s)) se ee 6. 73 UNE GKET-IOMS GBs ING) oct cette et 8.16 Chrome iron GheCr.0,) 22 i ee Pe eee 1.30 Phosphorus; (Pie eke eee ee es 202, Phosphoriciacid: CR2On ee eee al Chlorine (Cl) _----------------------------------5- . 04 Chromium (@r) ee ae Se Ne Traces. 99. 35
Reference—P. Melikoff and C. Schwalbe, Ber. Deut. Chem. Ges., vol. 26, 1893, p. 234.
HACHIMAN, MINO PROVINCE, JAPAN. No. 440. Stone. Three fragments weighing 21 grams. HAINHOLZ, MINDEN, WESTPHALIA, GERMANY. Nos. 136, 507.
Stony-iron, Mesosiderite. Two fragments weighing 8 and 17 grams, from a mass weighing 16! kilograms, found in 1856.
HAMMOND TOWNSHIP, ST. CROIX COUNTY, WISCONSIN. No. 471.
Iron, Or. Weight, 298 grams. Irregular slice 17.5 by 6.5 em. Etched and showing large troilite nodule, with gash-like veins of schreibersite. Weight of original mass, 24 kilograms, or about 53 pounds. Found in 1884. Chemical analysis yielded:
Per cent.
Aron (We) a eS ale ae ae ag 89. 78 INGCRGIS ING bre es oe ae ee 7. 65 CODA ARCO a eS ee eR etes PhosphonushGP)i22. 22. Ue ee Te ee ee ao Silica: SiG ies" 82 Bat oe ee ee ee . 56 Carbon’ (©), copper (Cu), and) tins(Sn)2 2 ees Traces. 99. 83
Reference——Davenport Fisher, Amer. Journ. Sci., vol. 34, 1887, p- 381.
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 23
Two VIEWS OF HENDERSONVILLE STONE, AS FOUND.
FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PAGE 79.
i i.
Bi
Bee an,
-
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 94 PL. 24
MICROSTRUCTURE OF THE HENDERSONVILLE STONE.
FOR DESCRIPTION SEE PAGE 79,
HANDBOOK OF THE METEORITE COLLECTIONS, 79
HARRISON COUNTY, INDIANA. No. 56,
Stone, Cho. Eleven grams from a shower which fell March 28, 1859. Gift of J. Berrien Lindsley.
HARTFORD (MARION), LINN COUNTY, IOWA. Nos. 129, 185.
Stone, Cwa. Two pieces with crust, weighing 23.7 and 41 grams. Fell February 25, 1847. Weight of original mass, 21 kilograms, or 46 pounds. Other masses reported as found, but the disposition of which is unknown. Analysis by Rammelsberg showed:
Per cent. SS TTS SAI (SS LO 3 ae ec eg oe ee 38. 95 PA rats tal ea (CA sO) gs) eee een ree 2. 04 Merrousnoxiae: (MeO) teu = a ee 14, 518 Mies ein se Ne (0) presse re ee 26. 05 Hperuira cota (CC eA) eee eee ee ee ee 1.175 Sod an CINGA ©) eee eee eR ES ee ee eee Se . 054 ion (Hie) =n ee ee ee 9. 46 PNG Ke i UNG) pet ee eee ee ee 1.08 ARS We TSC URS 0s SUL os nes) ) eee ee eee 6. 37
100. 027
Reference.—See Wiilfing, p. 189.
HENDERSONVILLE, HENDERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. No. 326. Stone, Ce. Nearly complete individual, weighing 3.545 kilograms. Weight of original mass, 11 pounds 6 ounces, or 5.17 kilograms. A compact dark gray stone thickly spotted with small points of metal- lic iron. (See pls. 23 and 24.) Found in 1901, though supposed to have fallen in 1876. Chemical analysis yielded as follows:
Per cent, Maori (RG) Se ae ee ee eee Dot SINGLE (CNG) eo os ee ee ee eee oe a Cobalt (Co) Sse 5h Ace ee Bo a ee eh . OL Sil Mabie) US) We ee ee 1.61 IPhosphovus WCE ia see See ee a . 912 ST GIST Oh) eens Se a ic A wh PN a Ohl 46. 06 HELLous ro RLCe Ne O)) eee tess ae Bes ek ee ee ee 14. 33 PAUUATNA LTR CPN (CN Ls Og) ie ote eset ee Ne, neues eels ee ple ens a 2. 20 @Whromiccoxides (Crs Op) eae ee ers See eee 23 AMSrinn D8 (ON) eso SE OE eee ee Dales Marnesia. (MgO) 222 Se ee ee 28. 62 TES) Cees Labs Gee 9) i ea ee ee . 10 Socials (Nas @)) ss i a ee See . 96 AVES IC USA ACEMTOMTC) see a a ees so
99. 352
80 BULLETIN 94, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Approximation of the relative quantities of the different constitu- ents:
: Per cent.
INT Ckel iron 222 2 She 2 2 ae Se oe ee 2. 59 "Troilite cg. 2 ee 5 5 dec ee A oe oe ae 4, 48 NCHPCIDCESIiC wa = Le ee ee 08 Chromitexé=s S02 Ce ee ee oe 80 Olivine. 22 42297 08 hor 9 wih eee 40. 48 PeYLOXOUES 2 x2 Seer y# Sel ae 51. 62 100. 00
Reference—G. P. Merrill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 32, 1907, p- 79.
HESSLE, NEAR UPSALA, SWEDEN. Nos. 27, 482.
Stone, Ce. Two pieces, one a fragment showing crust and weigh- ing 40 grams, and the second a small completely incrusted individual weighing 11 grams, from a shower comprising many individuals varying in weight from a fraction of a gram to a kilogram, which fell on January 1, 1869. The fall is of interest, being the first recorded fall in Sweden, and, further, (1) from the low velocity with which they struck the earth, Nordenskiéld stating that though the stones were so friable as to be readily broken if thrown against a hard sur- face, they were not broken or even scarred by the impact of the fall; and (2) from an associated carbonaceous matter which seemed to partake of the nature of a hydrocarbon.
Chemical analyses by