Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c16.s2.t4.15

v1.c16.s2.t4.15

The fact that none of the metals — Sn, Pb or Zn — bear any constant weight ratio with respect to Cu proves that the high figures were on account of deliberate alloying of reasonable pure copper (vide object no. 2) with metallic samples of Sn, Pb and Zn. At least four different samples, enriched with four metallic elements, must have been used for the alloying process. It is quite likely that Pb and Zn were produced as separate metals in some smelter area such Zawar, Rajasthan. Item No. 5 contains very high (nearly 26) percentage of zinc and indicates conscious production and use of zinc in the pre-Christian era.