Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c22.s6.34

v1.c22.s6.34

Articles of ‘white copper’ occurs at Taxila from the third century BC, but seem to have disappeared after the first century BC presumably because the trade link was snapped. The amount of nickel in the earliest specimen is only 9 per cent, the later ones containing a fairly regular proportion of 19-21 per cent. The alloy is very ductile and well-adapted for hammered work. It was valued for its durable silvery lustre, and employed for jewellery, coinage and small fancy goods. Lead and tin-lead solders have been reported in Table 14.9.