Paper, 'Notes on the microscopic structure of some rocks from the Andes of Ecuador, collected by E [Edward] Whymper' by T G [Thomas George] Bonney

Description

Bonney writes: 'Antisana is a much loftier and grander mountain than Pichincha, for its summit rises to an elevation of about 19,000 feet above the sea, and the upper part of the mountain (some 4,000 feet) is covered with snow and glaciers. The crevasses on the latter are described by Mr Whymper as being of an enormous size, probably the largest he had ever seen, and on his first attempt to ascend the peak he was prevented from reaching the summit by chasms and cliffs of ice, among which his party, in consequence of the mists, had become entangled. A second attempt proved successful, but the snowy summit of Antisana is evidently not one likely to be reached by unpractised mountaineers. The mountain is situated slightly to the south of the equator, to the east-south-east of the city of Quito, and nearly due east of the town of Machachi. “The extent of ground covered by Antisana,” according to Mr Whymper, “is, perhaps, as great as that covered by any of the Ecuadorian Andes, and more than is occupied by most of them. From north to south it extends over more than 20 miles of country, and not much, if at all, less from east to west. From most points of view at a distance, the mountain in form appears more like a ridge than a single summit. A close approach on the western side shows that this appearance is somewhat misleading, and that Antisana has two principal summits, the larger and higher being an immense snowy flat-topped boss, and the second (not less than 1,500 feet lower than the other) a sharp peak, which is probably at all times completely inaccessible.”'

Annotations in pencil and ink.

Subject: Geology

Received 29 February 1884. Read 13 March 1884.

A version of this paper was published in volume 36 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'Notes on the microscopic structure of some rocks from the Andes of Ecuador, collected by Edward Whymper, No. II. Antisana'.

Reference number

PP/4/36

Earliest possible date

1884

Physical description

Ink and graphite pencil on paper

Page extent

19 pages

Format

Manuscript