[patton]

Before the Haber process works, you are going to need one HECK of a campfire...

Very interesting. The pyramid peak of the Empire State building is aluminum - because at the time, aluminum was more valuable than gold.

[GeronL]

interesting!!

[Deaf Smith]

http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/jom/9511/binczewski-9511.html
You may really be thinking of the Washington Monument.

[canuck_conservative]

I think you mean the Washington Monument (1884) - there was an article about it awhile back here on FR.

[Pontiac]

Before the Haber process works, you are going to need one HECK of a campfire...

One possibility not mentioned is that the second century Chinese had a method for isolating Aluminum lost to time and not yet rediscovered.

Look how long metallurgist have been trying to rediscover how to make Damascus steel.

[Deaf Smith]

http://www.aluminiumleader.com/en/around/transport/aircraft
We had aluminum in aircraft long before the Empire State building.

[Pelham]

“The pyramid peak of the Empire State building is aluminum”

I think you mean the Washington Monument.

[alexander_busek]

Before the Haber process works, you are going to need one HECK of a campfire...

Did they find AMMONIA at the excavation, too?

On another note:

The Hall Process involves the electrolyzation of molten cryolite. I doubt that the ancient Chinese were able to generate powerful electrical currents. The aluminum pieces must be a later addition.

Regards,

[mad_as_he$$]

Washington Monument is topped with alum. also.