In a 1798 paper read before the Institut de France, Vauquelin reported that he found a new "earth" by dissolving aluminium hydroxide from emerald and beryl in an additional alkali.
I en afhandling fra 1798, oplæst for Institut de France, rapporterede Vauquelin at han har fundet en ny "jord" ved at opløse aluminiumhydroxid fra smaragd og beryl i en yderligere alkali.