Essay name: Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature
Author:
Sulekha Biswas
Affiliation: Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies the presence of Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature over three millennia, from the Rigveda to Rasaratna-Samuccaya. It establishes that ancient Indians were knowledgeable about various minerals and metallurgy prior to the Harappan era, with literary references starting in the Rgveda.
Chapter 5 - Minerals and Metals in Kautiliya Arthashastra
18 (of 31)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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in metal-content' (2.12.7). This phenomenon is due to the fact
that in most cases, the metal-bearing minerals are heavier than
the associated gangue minerals.
Precious Metals: Gold, Silver and their Alloys
The Arthasastra mentioned specific uses of various metals
of which gold and silver received maximum attention.
The duties of suvarnadhvaksah, the Superintendant of Gold
were defined in the section 2.13. He was supposed to establish
industrial outfits and employ sauvarnikas or goldsmiths, well-
versed in the knowledge of not only gold and silver, but also of
Jems
the alloying elements such as copper and iron and of gems which
had to be set in the gold and silver wares (2.13.1-2 & 58-59).
Superintendent had to arrange security preventing smuggling,
theft (2.13.30-36) and pilferage by the artisans, Various possible.
methods of pilferage were described (2.14.18-55).
Th
The purity of the raw materials-gold and silver ore, scrap
and Inaments for re-use-had to be checked through streak tests
on special touchstones (2.13.17-25) and chemical tests such as
whitening of gold by vermilion or iron sulphate (2.13.19).
Gold-smelting was known as suvarnapaka (1.18.8). Gold was
purified by a process of extraction with molten lead. Gold thus
produced was brittle and had to be re-smelted. Thereafter, it was
turned into leaves by heating, and made bright with Indus-earth
