Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-05-05

posed Of large number of separate
bodies grouped around central mass
which weighed 431a pounds The
largest piece unfortunately broken in
falling, one OF the fragments weighs
l6 pounds another 90 and the remain
der of the 43J1s is composed of small
pieces. These Fragments wcrc found
lying close together. have had four
Of the most perfect specimens neatly
photographed so as TO show their ir-
regularities of form and their peculiar
pitted appearance.
At first view tho interior Of these
meteors somewhat resembles sUme
specimcns of trap rock, bat when ex.
amined with an eye glass of consider
abl0 power they show mntitudes Of
bright particles OF Nicko,iferous iron
which shines with q copperish lus-
tire.
Tho chemical analysis Of meteoric
bodies is very interesting an l instruct-
tive-though they have not yet cer-
tainly revealed to the chemist any min.
eral which does not exist In terrestrial
substances-they do yet reveal them
in . different state, and in different
combinations from any yet found In
our native rocks. ..-.s.s IL.
1 have taken pains to secure q thoro'
and careful analysis of the Iowa coun.
ty meteor. Az stated In q previous
communication placed fragment
Weighing 10 OF. In the hands OF our
Prof. OF. Chemistry as early as the oath
of February, upon his promise to fur
nish mo the result for publication.-
He has not yet reported; but fortu-
nstely Prof. j. Lawrence Smith, who
is we'll known in this country and In
Europe for his numerous and valuable
contributions upon this and kindred
subjects, solicited the favor of small
part Of the portion given our Profess.
or. procured it and sent II to him
on tho 30th Of March, and he furnishes
me the following determinations. q
give only . part Of his report.)
Analysis of Professor J. Lawrence
Smith: isl7 *E'
nished 3.57
Earthly matter, Sl.64
Nicksiiierous iron, 1884
The Nickeliferous iron contains:
Iron, S9.W
Nickel, 1924
Cobalt, .58
together with trace Of Phosphorus,
Sulphur and Copper.
Tho earthly part contains Silica, Pro-
toxide Of Iron, Magnesis, Alumins
aud Soda, with traces Of Lithis and
Potasiurs This competition 10 quite
similar to that Of the Guernsey Co, O.,
meteor which fell May l, 1860.
The worlds stock Of these meteofic
specimens 10 by no means large. Ito
entire store Of meteoric stones up 70
A. d. 1868, is the product OF 26l
known falls, and Of l6O stones whose
character IL undoubted, but of whose
fall no one was witness making q to.
tai Of 421 falls, some Of which yielded
less than half pound. The store Of
meteoric irons Il somewhat larger.
The length Of this article forbids the
mention Of many other matters Of In.
terest.
In conclusion my thanks are due to
the gentlemen named inthis communi.
cation, who have assisted me In col.
lecting the material upon which these
calculations have been baaed, and to
others for like fsvors among whom I
would particularly mention, Mr. l. G
Ingersoll, Of Keokuk, Mr. Leggett, Of
Fairfield, ProfS J Buck, Of Grinnell,
Prof j T X Macomber, OF Iowa Ag.
College and Prof NJ L Comstock, Of
Galesburg ILL.,, Co. Supt Frank Moore
Of Eldora, DR.. King, of Steamboat
Rock, and last but not least to Mr.. II.
E. Fairall of the Davenport Gazette.
aud the editors of tho Iowa City Re
publican who have furnished me with
. large collection of newspaper cx-
tracts, In regard to the meteor.
Iowa State University April II, US.
N. r. LEoNARD.