Mineralogical Observations on Some Basalts on the Rhine
Mineralogical Observations on Some Basalts on the Rhine (German original title: Mineralogische Beobachtungen über einige Basalte am Rhein) is an early work by Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), published anonymously in 1790 in Braunschweig “at the School bookstore” (Schulbuchhandlung). The mineralogical treatise is dedicated to Georg Forster (1754–1794) – at that time Court Councillor and Librarian of Electoral Mainz – "with deepest friendship and reverence." It is listed as one of Humboldt's major works.[1]
Introduction
[edit]The young Alexander von Humboldt began studying physics, mathematics, and languages at the University of Göttingen in 1789, where Johann Friedrich Gmelin (1748–1804) was one of his first teachers in geognosy and mineralogy. In September of the same year, Humboldt undertook a journey along the Rhine to study the local geological conditions, including the presence of basalt. In his Mineralogical Observations, Humboldt discusses the contemporary doctrines concerning the origin of rocks, particularly Neptunism and Volcanism (also known as Plutonism).
One of the central controversies in German geological research at the beginning of the 19th century arose from the two opposing theories, both of which Goethe also engaged with. At the height of this dispute around 1790, a small anonymous publication appeared under the title Mineralogische Beobachtungen über einige Basalte am Rhein. Mit vorangeschickten, zerstreuten Bemerkungen über den Basalt der ältern und neuern Schriftsteller (Mineralogical Observations on Some Basalts on the Rhine. With Preliminary, Scattered Remarks on the Basalt of Older and More Recent Writers),[2]
To friends, the work was recognizable as Humboldt's due to the letters ‘H-t’ at the end of the foreword.[3] In his first independent publication, the young author presents himself as a loyal adherent of Abraham Gottlob Werner’s neptunist doctrine – particularly with regard to the origin of basalt.[4]
During his Rhine journey in 1789, Humboldt was especially fascinated by the columnar basalt formations he encountered near the city of Bonn (see Unkelstein). He was particularly interested in how these formations had originated, and he was convinced that they were of volcanic origin. He spent a great deal of time studying the basalt deposits and the surrounding geological conditions, concluding that the Rhine Valley must have been a site of volcanic activity in the past. Humboldt’s interest in volcanism and basalt persisted throughout his life, and he later explored other volcanically influenced regions of the world, including the Andes in South America, where he climbed the dormant volcano Chimborazo nearly to its summit.
Miscellaneous
[edit]The dedication copy from Alexander von Humboldt to his teacher Johann Friedrich Gmelin at the University of Göttingen, inscribed and signed on the inner front cover "Herrn Hofrath Gmelin / von seinem Schüler / A. von Humboldt" (“To Court Councillor Gmelin / from his student / A. von Humboldt”), was offered for sale in June 2025 at the antiquarian price of €16,000.00.[5]
Literature
[edit]- Alexander von Humboldt: Mineralogische Beobachtungen über einige Basalte am Rhein. Mit vorangeschickten, zerstreuten Bemerkungen über den Basalt der ältern und neuern Schriftsteller. In der Schulbuchhandlung, Braunschweig 1790 (Online)
- Fritz Krafft: „Alexander von Humboldts "Mineralogische Beobachtungen über einige Basalte am Rhein" und die Neptunismus-Vulkanismus-Kontroverse um die Basalt-Genese.“ In: Studia Fribergensia (Beiträge zur Alexander-von-Humboldt-Forschung, Band 18), Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1994, pp. 117-50
- Douglas Botting: Alexander von Humboldt. Biographie eines großen Forschungsreisenden. Prestel, München 1974 (4. Auflage 1989)
External Links
[edit]- Alexander von Humboldt und die Unkelsteine bei Oberwinter - Bruno P. Kremer
- Alexander von Humboldt und die Unkelsteine: Unkeler Geschichtsverein berichtet über Naturforscher
- Unkelstein - remagen.de
References
[edit]- ^ cf. the bibliography in: Douglas Botting, p. 393 ff. (Hauptwerke Humboldts nach Erscheinungsjahren)
- ^ The foreword particularly mentions Collini (Journal d’un voyage qui contient différentes observations minéralogiques, particulièrement sur les agates et le basalte. Avec un détail sur la manière de travailler les agates. Schwann, Mannheim, 1776, p. 156) and De Luc (Lettres physiques et morales sur les montagnes, et sur l’histoire de la terre et de l’homme. 6 volumes. The Hague 1778–1780 (Vol. 4, p. 326))
- ^ cf. e.g. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach: Handbuch der Naturgeschichte. 4th ed. Göttingen, 1791, p. 576 (Digital version)
- ^ cf. Fritz Krafft: Alexander von Humboldts "Mineralogische Beobachtungen über einige Basalte am Rhein" und die Neptunismus-Vulkanismus-Kontroverse um die Basalt-Genese.“ In: Studia Fribergensia (Beiträge zur Alexander-von-Humboldt-Forschung, Band 18), Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1994, S. 117-50
- ^ Antiquarian link – Milestones of Science Books, Ritterhude, Germany (retrieved on June 18, 2025)