Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s6.t2: Silver

v1.c11.s6.t2.1

In the Bhagalpur, Manbhum, Monghyr and Singhbhum districts of Bihar and Orissa, silver has been found associated with lead, but neither metal in considerable quantity. Similar occurrences have been met within the Central India, Drug, Hoshangabad and Jabalpur district. Silver associated with gold is produced in considerable quantity today in Kolar in Mysore, and to a much smaller extent at Anantapur in Madras. An ancient lead mine, the lead from which yields a small quantity of silver exists in Farinjal in the Ghorband Valley of Afghanistan. Silver may also have been derived from the many other lead localities of southern Afghanistan. In the same country, well-known silver mines existed near the head of the Panjshir valley in the Hindu Kush; silver deposits were also formerly worked upon near Heart. Persia is said to be very rich in silver-bearing lead ore. Thus it may be said that if the ancients knew how to separate silver from gold, it is possible that the Mohenjo-Daro supplies might have come with the gold from southern India. The art of separating silver from lead has been known for many generations, so that the Farinjal mine of Afghanistan, the Gumush Khanch mines of Armenia and the many lead mines of Persia might be looked upon as possible sources. (MS-II, 675)