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
Its shape is irregular, but in general it is that of a
flattened elongated slab, having a length of four feet one inch
and an average breadth of about eighteen inches; its thickness
is irregular, varying from two to five inches. It has evidently
been long used as an anvil, having been partly buried in the
ground in an upright position, having a flat face of about
four inches square on the top, with two holes drilled in the
projecting edge for adding to the convenience of its use as a
blacksmith’s anvil.
The mass is now placed in the Mayor’s office, it having been
deemed inadvisable to expose it on the Plaza, as desired by
the donor, on account of its liability to rust in the damp
atmosphere of San Francisco, and the difficulty of securing it
from injury by careless or mischievous handling.
Professor Brush remarks that “the composition of this meteorite
corresponds very closely with that of _another_ meteoric
iron from Tucson” discovered by Mr. Bartlett and analyzed by
Professor J. Lawrence Smith. A comparison of the analyses of
Professors Brush and Smith and a reference to Mr. Bartlett’s
work seem to render it highly probable, to say the least, that
the two analyses were of pieces cut from the same mass.
In this connection I will add to General Carleton’s quotation
from Mr. Bartlett’s book a few lines which complete what is
said in regard to the meteorites seen by him at Tucson. Mr.
Bartlett adds, after stating that the mass was found about
twenty miles distant towards Tubac and about eight miles from
the road, “where we were told are many larger masses. The
annexed drawing gives the appearance of this singular mass.
There is another large mass within the garrison grounds, of
which I did not take a sketch. With much labor Dr. Webb broke
off a fragment of this meteorite, for the purpose of analysis.”
The wood cut which Mr. Bartlett gives of the meteoric iron,
which he notices as having been used as an anvil, shows at
once, as does also the description, that, contrary to General
Carleton’s idea, this mass and the one which is now in San
Francisco, are not the same. The mass figured by Mr. Bartlett
is of a very peculiar shape, well adapting it to use as a
common blacksmith’s anvil, as it has a broad, flat top, and is
supported by two legs.
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