History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.s1.t3.11

v1.c12.s1.t3.11

In conclusion it will be pertinent to say that copper mining in ancient times was done in almost all the areas where present day mining is being done. The ancients had the skill to explore for the ore deposit and mine only such portions which would be remunerative. Mining was done by firesetting and quenching to initiate cracks in the orebody followed by extraction of ore with chisel and hammer. Transport of broken ore was done in baskets carried over the head of labourers. Ventilation at the working face was not systematically organised; for fresh air often the underground tunnels were connected to the surface by shafts. The mining depth was limited up to the water table.