65 
der Gibbsit = Al 2 0 3 + 3 Aq. und 
der neue = Al 2 0 3 + 4 Aq. 
Diese Eigenschaft der schwefelsauren Thonerde , durch Ammoniak die 
Schwefelsäure völlig' zu verlieren, kann in der analytischen Chemie von Wich- 
tigkeit werden, wenn man nicht das kohlensaure Ammoniak zum Fällen anwenden 
kann, wie es Forchhammer vorschreibt, um der Einmischung der Schwefel- 
säure zu entgehen. 
Derselbe legte ferner ein grosses Stück gediegenen Silbers von Guantajaia 
in Chili vor, mit dem Bemerken, dass in solchen Silberstücken nicht selten Ver- 
steinerungen (des Kohlenkalkes?) von reinem Silber ganz ausgefüllt, vorkämen. 
A. v. Humboldt und Capitain Wen dt in Bremen seien im Besitz solcher 
Petrefacten, über deren Vorkommen in diesem Metalle folgender Bericht über- 
geben wurde : 
Guantajaia is situated about 2 leags. in a direct line from the port of 
Iquiqui but is about 3 legs. by the road, • — * the land rises in all this coast 
precipitately from the sea , from 1800 to 3300 or 3500 (or even more) feet above 
the level of the sea. * — • 
The mineral of Guantajaia appear to have been worked by some Portu- 
geese adventurers as early as 1665, and it is very probable was worked by the 
Aborigines (of the Nation of Atacames - which extended along the coast from the 
river of Jambo to Chili • — but only reached to the foot of the Cordillera). The 
Portugeese acquired very great riclies here, which is supposed to have excited 
the avarice of the then Government in Lima , they were accused before the In- 
quisition in Lima of heresy as Jews — • (which may have been true — but it is 
generally believed now that their riclies was their greatest crime) * — they were 
eondemned by the Inquisition ■ — one was burnt in Lima, the other 2 died in the 
prisons of the Inquisition in that City. . — • 
The ruiii of the owners brought ruin on the mineral, it was abandoned 
for about 100 years, when an Indian shewed this rieh mineral to Coronel Loaisa 
of Pica, the ancestor of the family of La Fuentis of Arequipa, the present 
principal owners — who have since its rediscovery in 1763 got out several 
Mi 11 io ns of dollars. • — 
The Situation of this rieh mineral is the most wild and desert that can be 
immagined — - embosomed in the midst of desert hills and sandy plains only 
II. Abthoil. fl 
