An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c21.s9.t1.5

v1.c21.s9.t1.5

Small pure metallic nuggets collected from the mining area could be hammered and directly shaped into simple ornaments and need not necessarily have needed the expert services of a goldsmith. But gold mined from quartz veins needed some treatment. The detached rock was carried outside the mine where it was crushed in large stone mortars and finally ground. This powder was washed with water on a sloping surface and gold particles were separated. Alternatively alluvial gold was agitated with water in pans, cradles and sluices, so that earthy matter was floated off and gold particles were retained.