Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c23.8

v1.c23.8

Harappans most probably obtained their lead (with silver) from the Fāranjāl mine in the Ghorband Valley of Afghanistan. The Harappans obtained most of their copper from India itself—Khetri, Ganeshwar-Jodhpura, Ahar regions etc. Similarly, there were more than one source for steatite: northern Baluchistan, area around Fort Sandeman, several areas in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The main deposit for carnelian was probably in Kāthiawād at Rajpipla near the village of Ratanpur. These materials and also copper, ivory, shell objects etc. used to be exported. Gold was obtained mostly from alluvial washings and river sands, and it is unlikely that Kolar gold field was tapped during the Harappan period. Diamond mining on some measurable scale must have started much later.