102 REPORT—1852. 
earth, then ejected through volcanic vents, at times with steam and water as a hot 
saturated solution, at times with earthy matters, the salt afterwards forming masses, 
of in those peculiar orbicular layers, as seen in Cheshire and elsewhere, and such 
operations having gone on at various periods and under different circumstances and 
elevatiotis, may account for rock or fossil salt being now fourd below the level of 
the sea, above it, and at great elevations on the surface of the globe. Having now 
arrived at the supposed origin of rock salt, the next division is proceeded with, viz. 
VIL. Saline Lakes situated in the elevated regions of India, 'Thibet, and other parts 
of Asia, 48 well as at lower levels, including the Dead Sea, which is below the ocean ; 
the saline lakes of North and South America. In these cases, as already mentioned, 
the waters of melting snows and rain would dissolve the salt formed in high regions, 
washing it down into hollows, and then salt lakes would be formed at all élevations, 
aiid when these waters became saturated salt would be deposited; in summer some 
would dry up, leaving a cake of the substance. 
VILL. Brine Springs are met with all over the world; such being formed by water 
percolating through the earth, first at high levels, then coming into contact with de- 
positions of salt, producing springs, lakes and streams, from which the saline matters 
are found in some cases to remain in hollows and plains, forming large tracts of surface- 
salt. 
IX. The saline matters found in the Steppes of Asia, Deserts of Africa, Pampas of 
Patagoitia, and other places to the north, in the Desert of Atacama, and along the 
west coast of America; and lastly, in the great saline deserts of Mexico, California, 
and the United States. In these cases the salt has been brought down by streams 
and springs from higher regions to a lower. 
X. Saline bodies formed by the decomposition of voleanic and other rocks; the 
albites or soda granites, so common in the New World; the red granites, yielding 
potash, as in India, giving rise to nitrate of potash ; such decomposition would go on 
at all elevations, and, by the aid of water, the soluble parts would find their way into 
lower regions, and ultimately into the ocean. 
Mr. Bollaert then describes the section of country from Buenos Ayres to Potosi and 
Lima, also another in South Peru, from Iquique in the province of ‘Tarapaca, lat. 20° 
12' S., long. 70° 14! W. to Potosi, the latter in particular, as being interesting in regard 
to the subject of his observations. 
The now important port of Iquique is in the centre of a region where it seldom or 
never rains. No water is found on the coast, except where a rivulet may come from 
the Andes; such water-courses being very scarce, and often salt. Under the Incas, 
Iquique was a fishing-place, and guano was collected there. There is no vegetation 
whataver to be seen, and in early times water had to be brought from the interior, When 
the celebrated silver mines of Huantajaya were discovered in 1556, a few miles inland 
frum Iquique, then this port was supplied with water from the ravine of Pisagua, 
which is to the north; but of late years, and since nitrate of soda has been shipped 
from thence, stills have been employed for the distillation of fresh- from sea-water, 
supplying 1000 to 1200 people as well as animals. In some of the plains near the 
coast, bay-salt is met with 15 to 20 feet above the sea, the laid having been recently 
uplifted from it. 
Frotn the sea-shore in many places there is an abrupt rise of 2000 to 3000 feet, at 
which level are plains, hollows and undulations; and rising out of them ranges of 
porphyritic and argillaceous mountains 3000 feet higher. Veins of metallic matters 
are abundant, gold, copper, lead, arsenic, &c., the silver mines of Huantajaya having 
yielded from 1726 to 1826 more than 15 millions sterling. In the hollows, plains 
and undulations are extensive superficial collections of salt, containing a little chlo- 
ride of calcium. This coast-range is 30 miles wide, and, having passed it, the Great 
Plain of Tamarugal is entered, which is 3000 to 8500 feet above the sea, and some 
80 miles wide. In the south is the brackish river Loa, with salt streams running 
into it; in the north there are other salitie streams. Where water from the Andes 
gets into this plain, and it often runs over its surface, and that water not very salt, 
there a few Tamarugos (Mimosa) grow; and buried under the soil there is much appa- 
rently of the same species of tree undergoing a saline fossilization. The author is 
strongly inclined to think, that we must look to this surface-water as the vehicle 
that has brought down from great elevations the saline matters, such as ate found 

