Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c20.s5.6

v1.c20.s5.6

Rich hematite deposits around Mirzapur might have been used for smelting in the Rajghat site. Bhardwaj (1979: 155-56) has noted that the Rajghat iron is associated with Ti and P₂O₅ and therefore could have been produced from the Singhbhum ore assaying much more than 72 per cent Fe₂O₃, 2-4 per cent Al₂O₃, 0.6- 2.4 per cent SiO₂, trace to 0.35 per cent CaO, 0. 17-0.20 per cent MgO as well as 0.2-1.0 per cent P₂O₅ and appreciable amount of TiO₂.