Arizona weekly citizen., 1896-11-28
Maeutfioent Meteorite.

EDITOR CITIzEN:-The mineral collec- tions of the Arizona School of Mines at the university, this city, have recently been enriched Dy the acquisition of the fine meteorIc iron discovered upon the top of Weaver mountain in Ysvapai county, 6 short notice of which appear ed in Phoenix papers last July.
 This meteorite has been subjected to J preliminary chemi ;si sud physlcsl tests in the laboratory of the school of mines and is found to nave the essential char aoteristics of the class of bodies which reach our earth from the remote regions of s ysce. It belongs to the clsss known as "Sidsrites," or holosideritee, being chiefly or wholly composed of iron alloy ed with nickel. The mixture IS appar. ently homogeneous throughout aud la remsxably tough. The meet carefully tempered steel chisels are quickly broK- CD aud ruined in attem liDR to chip on fragments for analysis. The cut sur face is as bright as silver, for which metal the msse was once mistaken. The outer surface is a very thin dsrk-colored crust characteristic of iron meteorites. TEere is not aoy ordinary rust or any ex- relation of chloride of iron.
 In shape the msss is rudely trlsngu- lar, with sides of nearly equal length; two sides measuring l2 inches each, sJo the third about II inches. In the ceD- ter it is about inches thick and 4 inches at the base thinuing down toward the apex of the triangle. The form hss been compared to that of ham. Both sides are rounded over, but one face IS nearly smooth while the opposite one is much pitted with cup-like depressiops, or "cupulee," also characteristic of me- teoric lrops. These cupules vary in mag. nitude from Cpe half an inch to an inch or more ID diameter and from one half an inch to an inch in depth.
 The weight of this msteorite IS S6H pounds, equivalent to 39.2l6 kilogrsm- mes. Its specific gravity is remarkably high, beng over s, or more than eight times ss much ss sn equal bulk of water. The determination wss made by dls- placement. The iron by immersion dis places 4730 cubic centimetors of water at a temperature of 15 Legreee cen:i- grade. This shows the volume Of the mass. The weight of this equa. volume of water compared with the weight of the iron gives the specific gravity of the whole msse. Meteoric irons rarely have @ gsvIty exceeding 8-10. It thus seems probable that there are not any cavities ID the midst of the iron or any included substances of lower specific gravity.
 A polished and etched surface shows only dense homogeneous finely granu- lar structure without the usual cryetalli. zstion. In this respect 1t compares closely with the texture of the cigar shaped meteorite from Green county, Tennessee.
 A qualitative chemical test ehows the presence of a notable quantity of nickel.
 The history of tbis meteorite. co far ss it ie known, is generally Interesting especially to residents of Arizona. It was not eeen to fall, and the date of ite advent upon our planet may be sn ex- tremely remote one. It was found in the summer of 1894 at the top of Weaver mountain, also known as Rich Hill, a locality not o,ly famous in the annals of mining in A-.Hopa but extremely interesting from 8 Rert 2ical pCint of view and poted as the scene~of most fearful tragedies.
 A Mexican man, name unknown, stumbled upon the black and heavy mass at a point seven miles from the Yarnell mine and fifteen from the Con- gress mine. This man thought that be lad found lump of solid silver, and fearing lt would be taken from him he buried it in the earth, where 1t remain ed for about two months. He then took some miners with him and exbu med it for Q closer examination. While some were in doubt the others declared that the mase was nearly all silver but ss to tbe balarce of the material they nsd DO idea. The Mexican then re buried bis treasure, but after eight months he took it up again aud started with 1t to the city of Phoenix, resolved to find out what his find was really worth. He took the route across the country by way of Castle Greek and had travelled down the creek about five mlles below Hot Springe where he camped for dinner. At this time Messrs. Q. M. Frazier. D. P. Kyle and w. w. Wall of Phoenix were on their way up the creek to examine some mines. Passipg the camp of the Mexican they were sccosted by him, and asked to look at what he had. These gentlemen after some bar. gaining scecured the mace and took 1t to Phoenix where it was pr0nunced to be a meteOrlte.
 A short notice which appeared in tte Phoenix papers appears to have been greatly expanded and exaggerated by the time it reached the eastern citiee, for Associated Press sgents became clamorous for all the details concerning the wonderful meteorite reported to be as large as 8 mountain and covering many acres of Salt River Valley.
 Through the efforts of the officers of the schc ol of hines and the university seconded by the influencs of Governor Franklin and the patriotism ot MT Wall, the specimen has found resting place in the museum at the university and is now undergoing a rigid scientific investigation.
 Arizona School ot Mines,
 VIM. P. BLAKE,
 Director.