Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume III, 1863-1867Various
Science
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Volume III, 1863-1867
Various
California Academy of Sciences -- Periodicals; Science -- Periodicals
The composition of this meteorite corresponds very closely
with another meteoric-iron from Tucson, discovered by Mr.
Bartlett, and described by Prof. J. Lawrence Smith, in the
_American Journal of Science_, vol. XIX, page 161. Dr. Smith’s
analysis gives Iron 85.54, Nickel 8.55, Cobalt 0.61, Copper
0.03, Phosphorus 0.12, Chromic-oxyd 0.21, Magnesia 2.04, Silica
3.02, Alumina, trace = 100.18. He considers it to correspond to
Nickeliferous Iron 93.81, Chrome Iron 0.41, Schreibersite 0.84,
Olivine 5.06 = 100.18. By an evident inadvertence Dr. Smith
adds the magnesia and silica together, and gives the sum as
olivine; these substances are obviously not in the proportions
to form the silicate 3 R O, Si O₃, and if we consider the
silicate to be olivine, we must reckon the excess of silica
as combined with protoxyd of iron. To do this, we must deduct
2.78 from the amount of metallic iron (equal to 2.58 protoxyd
of iron), necessary to be combined with the silica and magnesia
to give the olivine formula. The amount of olivine contained
in the Bartlett meteoric-iron will then be 8.64 per cent. Thus
the two masses of iron will be seen to agree very nearly in
composition, the only trifling difference being, that Dr. Smith
has determined quantitatively the small amount of chromium
contained in the Bartlett meteorite, while I have found a
little lime and traces of sulphur and chlorine in the specimen
you sent to me. The specific gravity I have stated to be 7.39;
this was taken on about 12.5 grammes of the iron, and probably
is somewhat higher than the portion which I analyzed, as the
two surfaces of the larger mass had been rubbed down, and as
thus a considerable portion of the exposed silicate would be
mechanically removed, it would make the density correspondingly
higher.
I regret that I had not more of this interesting meteorite at
my command, in order to have determined more definitely and
satisfactorily the character of the insoluble residue. I shall
be glad to make a further investigation of this point if you
will supply me with more material.
Very respectfully yours,
GEO. J. BRUSH.
After reading the above letter, Professor Whitney added some remarks on
the form and locality of the meteoric iron analyzed by Professor Brush,
stating the circumstances under which it came in possession of the city
of San Francisco.
On the twenty-fourth of November, 1862, the Board of Supervisors of this
city received, through Mayor Teschemacher, a letter from General George
Wright, commanding the Department of the Pacific, stating that he had
received a mass of meteoric iron from General Carleton, commanding the
“Column from California,” and which mass he, in accordance with General
Carleton’s request, placed at the disposal of the city authorities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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