Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c12.s6.6
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c12.s6.6
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v1.c12.s6.6
About the source of copper we have already discussed in the previous chapter. The Rajputana mines are nearest to Harappa and contain As and Ni; the extensive remains of ancient workings and heaps of slag in some of these mines indicate the existence of a flourishing copper industry in early India. Vats thinks that the small amount of tin, arsenic, antimony, lead, nickel and iron which have been found in the specimens of copper from Harappa imply impurities derived from the ores and not intentional addition for any specific purpose. However all these foreign elements influence the working properties of copper in varying degrees and add to its hardness or strength.