History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.6

v1.c12.6

The earliest and most authentic record of information relating to minerals is found in *Arthaśāstra* by Kauṭilya (popularly known as Cāṇakya). Amongst other things this treatise gives comprehensive account of the properties of ore, minerals and metals with the method of their large scale production and treatment as well as the manufactures of alloys like brass, and also gold and silver alloys with base metals. Properties of gold, silver, copper, lead, tin, iron and mercury have been described.