[meteorite-list] NPA 04-19-1888 Kunz Can't Find Diamonds in the Novi Urei meteorite

[MARK BOSTICK]

Paper: Decatur Republican
City: Decatur, Illinois
Date: Thursday, April 19, 1888
Page: 2

METEORIC DIAMONDS

Interesting Examinations Recently Made by George F. Kunz.

     George F. Kunz, at the tenth annual reception of the New York 
Microscopical Society, exhibited a microscopical specimen of a meteoric 
stone, in which, some foreign experts claim, diamond exist. The stone fell 
at Novy Urej, Krasnoslobdsk, Government of Penza, Russia, on September 4, 
1886, shortly after seven o'clock in the morning, and was found by MM. 
Latshinof and Jeroleief, who, after examining it, came to the conclusion 
that it was filled with meteoric diamonds.
     Mr. Kunz, in speaking of the specimen, said that it was of special 
interest, since Fletcher had given the name "Cliftonite" to the new cubic 
form of carbon, which he obtained from the meteoric iron that was found in 
the sub-district of Yunadegin, Austrialia, in 1884, and suggested, since 
this form is peculiar to the diamond and not to graphite, that, although the 
crystalization may have been initially favorable to the formation of the 
diamond, yet it was so rapid that the graphite form only was developed. He 
had only received two grams of the meteor found by MM. Latschinof and 
Jeroleief, and in view of the fact that the stone weighed four pounds, or 
nearly two thousand grams, it was very difficult to judge from his specimen 
of the nature of its bearings.
     Mr. Kunz made a careful examination of the two gram specimen, but found 
absolutely no trace of diamonds. There occurred in the stone small grains of 
olivine or peridot, which being rounded and having a marking as well as a 
luster, must have been mistaken for diamonds. The discovers, according to 
Mr. Kunz idea, head probably described the olivine as diamonds without a 
thorough examination, although he could not alleged positively until he had 
seen both the meteor and the papers describing the discovery,  neither of 
which had yet come to this country.
     Mr. Kunz also exhibited a specimen of porphyritic volcanic peridotite, 
the altered carbonaceous breccia of which has yield nearly seven tons of 
diamonds, valued, uncut, at $250,000,000; a section of a rock containing a 
beautiful two karet absolutely white perfect octahedron, and several 
specimens of rocks showing all the characteristic minerals which were 
obtained during a trip through the country last summer. - Jeweler's Weekly.

(end)

Article refers to the Novi Urei meteorite.

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
Wichita, Kansas
http://www.meteoritearticles.com
http://www.kansasmeteoritesociety.com
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