RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Helms, Travels from Buenos Ayres, by Potosi, to Lima, with notes by the translator, etc. CUL-DAR40.38. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2021. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.

Anton Zacharias Helms. 1807. Travels from Buenos Ayres, by Potosi, to Lima, with notes by the translator, etc.London. Printed for R. Phillips.

A727

Anton Zacharias Helms (1751-1803) German mining director in Peru 1788-92.

EH88202333


[38]

Helm's English Edit –

Cordova mountains, veins of lead & silver, red granite

Immediately W. of Tucuman metals abundant.

p. 24 During journey to Tucuman we found the mountains composed of primitive granite but as we proceeded the granite became interspersed with argillaceous slate of various colours; that however, which chiefly predominates in the Cordillera, is of a bluish cast as far at least as we had opportunity of examining them. Strata of Limestone & large masses of ferrugineous sandstone, are in many places superincumbent on the argillaceous slate. We likewise found on the road coal gypsum or rock salt

 

[38V]

the last ever on the summits of the most elevated ridges!!

Rosario to Concha blue argillaceous slate in mountains.

 

al Salto entered real Cordillera leaving lower mountains.

[illeg] indications of beds of salt as at before near Tala

 

Argillaceous slaty mountains round mojos.

p 48 –incidentally mentioned light new lochs running in a direction nearly N & S.

Near Potosi talks great rounded

masses of granite p. 45 & again beyond do p. 55. alluvium, of do with granite in situ at la Lenna

He says from Tucuman to Potosi argillaceous schistus.

Argillaceous slate appears very abundant beyond Potosi

Beyond La Lenna sandstone on slate interspersed with granite

77


Return to homepage

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 25 September, 2022