History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.s1.t10.1

v1.c12.s1.t10.1

Both opencast and underground methods are apparent. The earliest workings appear to have been by narrow shafts sunk in ore-bearing beds following apparently irregular deposits. Shafts are common in pairs, often at intervals of only a few metres, and have climbing footholds (Fig.9). Some shafts have been sunk in the softer graphite schist to meet the hangingwall of the calc- silicate at a depth of 8-10 m.