48 CHEMICAL MANURES. 



The points of the Chipana Coast, Pabellon de Pira, Punta de 

 Lobos, Huanillos, the Ballestas Isles, Guanape, Macabi, Lobos de 

 Afuera, etc., contain considerable deposits. 



Nauru Guano. — Nauru Isle, attached to the German protectorate 

 of the Marshall Isles, is in 0-26 of S. latitude and 166-55'' of E. 

 longitude. Whilst the atolls of the Pacific scarcely rise 3 metres 

 (10 feet) above high water, the Isle of Nauru rises about 75 metres, 

 with an area of 2000 hectares (5000 acres). A bank of coral chains 

 60 to 90 metres wide (195-6 to 295-2 feet) go right round the island. 

 To that succeeds a flat zone 100 metres wide covered with coconut 

 trees ; behind rises a rocky region, which consists of a mass of phos- 

 phate of great richness. No one knows the depth of this deposit, 

 but the beds known are so extensive that their working may last for 

 several generations. The quality of this phosphate would appear 

 to be superior to that of all the phosphates known up to now, both 

 as regards the richness and regularity of the phosphoric acid 

 content, 86 to 87 per cent Ca^P^O^, as well as the small proportion of 

 oxide of iron and alumina. 



A good part of the exports of Nauru phosphate goes to countries 

 washed by the waves of the Pacific, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, 

 and Honolulu, but France, Belgium, Great Britain, Sweden, Nor- 

 way, Russia, and especially Germany likewise import large quantities. 



AngauT Island Phos2)hate. — The deposits of Angaur Island 

 phosphate comprise about 2,500,000 tons which may be extracted 

 in the open air. Four-fifths of the deposit consist of a phosphate 

 with a content of 80 per cent of tribasic phosphate of lime. Work- 

 ing reserved for thirty-five years to a German company with a 

 capital of 4,500,000 marks, say £225,000. 



Makatea Isle Phosjjhatic Deposits. — There has been discovered 

 in the island of Makatea deposits of phosphate containing according 

 to the analyses made from 60 to 85 per cent and even 90 per cent 

 of pure phosphate of lime. Makatea Island belongs to the Pau- 

 motou Archipelago, and lies 120 miles to the north of Tahiti. It is 

 4| miles long and 1\ miles wide. Its formation differs from all 

 the other islands of the Paumotou group, in that it has no lagoon, 

 and rises up to 230 feet, whilst the other islands are simple chains 

 of an average height of 8 feet above sea-level. Phosphate has been 

 found in several of these atolls, especially in that of Niau. Guano has 

 also been found in Puka-Puka in the extreme north-west of the i^roup. 



The deposits of Makatea are valued at 30,000,000 tons and 

 will be exploited by a French company. 



cast it is only excelled by apatite. As to Mejillones guano, with 7 per cent 

 of organic matter, it yields a superphosphate the colour of peat — as it passes 

 into lignite — and the farmer does not like such a colour even in a compound 

 manure far less in a superphosphate. So dark is this colour that it can only 

 be used sparingly even in compound manures where the raw materials are sent 

 up the cups and not dry mixed. — Tr, 



