Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s18.2

v1.c11.s18.2

At the present-day, the name *śilājit* is given to two substances. One is white in colour and is a more or less pure native aluminium sulphate. The second is called black *śilājit* and is of quite a different nature. It exudes from the rocks and though it resembles a bituminous alum ore, there is vegetable matter mixed with it. It is this latter substance that has been found at Mohenjo-Daro. It generally occurs at the upper ranges of the Himalayas, although it is found from the other parts of the world notably near- and middle-east.