Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c11.s6.t8: Rock Crystal

v1.c11.s6.t8.1

Rock crystal is a very common form of semi-precious silica or quartz and is fairly widespread in its occurrence. It has been worked upon at many localities in India. The lapidaries of Cambay obtain their supplies from Tankara in the Kathiawar peninsula. Large prisms were formerly obtained in the bed of the Godavari near Rajahmundri and in the stream beds of Tanjore both in Madras. Delhi was formerly another source. Interesting little bi-pyramidal crystals have for a long time been obtained from the red marls of Mari in the Mianwali district of the Punjab; these are known as ‘Mari diamonds’. The Alps and India are supposed to have furnished the ancients with their supplies of rock crystal, and it is not unlikely that the Mohenjo-Daro inhabitants obtained theirs either from Mari, from the Kathiawar peninsula or from Vellum in the Tanjore district of Madras.