An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s9.t1.13

v1.c21.s9.t1.13

The production of both lead and silver was from the same ore—argentiferous galena (basically an ore of lead in which silver occurs as an impurity). Smelting of this ore and extraction of lead from it is one of the simplest metallurgical operations. In ancient times metallic lead could have been obtained by simply heaping the ore on top of the fuel placed on the ground or in a pit. Fused metal, which melts at 327° C, could have run out at the bottom of the heap and was collected. (Reduction temperature of lead oxide is well within 800° C and so smelting could be done easily in a domestic fire using charcoal.)