Mineralogy and Geology. 



275 



On the descent of the Quebrada de Vinchos, in the peak of Ckurca, 

 there is a bed of coal which I discovered. I believe it to be of good 

 quality, although of little thickness. Near the village of Pallanckaca, 

 there is an important bed which is yet to be explored. 



The extensive silver mine of Huallanca has near it beds of mineral 

 coal, 4 to 5 varas thick, and of excellent quality; and it is probable that 

 manufactories and founderies will consequently be established. The 

 height of Huallanca above the sea level is 3.527 meters. Near the quick- 

 silver mine of Chonta, at. a height of 4,465 meters, there are beds of 

 coal, hitherto explored only for heating. They rest on sandstone and al- 

 ternate with conglomerate and iron pyrites. 



Coal is also found in the profound Quebrada of Queropalca, a region 

 very rich in metals, especially lead ; also in Chavin de Guanta, celebra- 

 ted for its famous castles of the ancient Incas. Near the mine of Oyon, 

 Province of Cajatambo, several beds of superior quality have been ex- 

 plored, covering many leagues. The old mine of antimonial sulphuret 

 of silver, lying upon magnesian carbonate of lime, and whose explor- 

 ation has lately been undertaken by an American ((J. S.) company, has 

 not responded to their expectations. The village of Oyon is 3,621 me- 

 ters above the sea level. 



In the hill of La Vinda, on the road from Obragillo to Cerro de Pasco, 

 at an elevation of 4,613 meters, I have observed coal in horizontal beds 

 between sandstone and shale, containing fossil shells which were too im- 

 perfect to make out the species. There is coal also in the villages of 

 Marcapopacocha, Alpamarca, Pallanea, etc. 



Twelve leagues from Cerro, there is the coal bed of Cullutago, extend- 

 ing on both sides of the Quebrada of the village of Huallay enclosed by 

 the elevations of Andaeancha and Anascacha ; the bases of these eleva- 

 tions are of sandstone, while the summits consist of white trachyte con- 

 taining bits of greyish perlite and white transparent quartz. Before ar- 

 riving at Huallay, ores of silver and mineral eoal are met with on the 

 road. Coal also occurs in the peak of Chicacha, which contains also mines 

 of silver. The base of the mountain is remarkable for a saliferous marl, 

 the source of several salt springs or streams. 



In the peak of Aranvaldpan, there are several other mines of good 

 coal, which were opened by the Company of Abadia for the smelting 

 of argentiferous galena. There is another near the small lake of Pi- 

 chac, explored by M. Alexander Verastegui, but of inferior quality. Near 

 Huaypacha, there is a bed of lignite. At Chapalca, near Puipuy, coal 

 exists in a bed of considerable extent; also of superior quality and 

 extent near Huayay. Coal is also said to occur in the road from Farma 

 to Jauja, and at the Quicksilver mine of Huancavelica. 



Some years since, coal beds were discovered at the Quebrada of Murco, 

 in the department of Arequipa. This Quebrada, the commencement of the 

 Valley of Siguas, takes its origin at the foot of the high and majestic 

 Nevado de Sallaly, whose summit is covered with perpetual snow and will 

 never be scaled by man. I think that the height is greater than that of 

 the volcano of Arequipa, which is 6,600 meters. All travelers who pass 

 the foot towards Lampa or Puno, suffer from extreme cold and dizzi- 

 ness from the rarity of the atmosphere, causes which in some seasons 



