History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c17.s4.t2.12

v1.c17.s4.t2.12

At Agnigundala, Andhra Pradesh, extensive mining, mineral processing (crushing, grinding and beneficiation) and smelting (of copper and lead) took place in ancient India which is evident from the rock dumps, slag heaps, cupolas and crucibles (Ziauddin, 1961: 120). The ore must have been complex and multi-metallic. Similarly, selective mining of the Ambamata deposit might have resulted in recoveries of copper, lead and silver, and zinc which was strikingly rich in cadmium (Shekar, 1983).