An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s9.16

v1.c21.s9.16

*16.9.2 Iron.* India is endowed with high-quality rich deposits of haematite, magnetite and limonite. Deposits of Singhbhum-Mayurbhanj in Bihar and Orissa, Salem-Tiruchchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, Bellary, Kemmangundi and Hiriyur in Karnataka and Bailadila and Rowghat in Madhya Pradesh merit special mention. Some of these deposits might account for a flourishing iron industry and high quality of iron. It is not without significance that two nuclear cultural zones of the Iron Age, viz. Magadha and the Deccan and s., were comfortably located near the rich iron-bearing areas.