Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s1.t3.3

v1.c24.s1.t3.3

The feldspar called moonstone came from the gem-gravels of South-Western Sri Lanka, specially Dumbara. Warmington doubted whether it could be Pliny’s ‘astrion’ or his ‘ceraunia’, and suggested that it could be his ‘selenitis’. The other mineral in this sub-group, lapis lazuli came from the ancient mines at Firgamu in Badakshan by caravans through Afghanistan to Barbarikon (near Karachi), and the Romans took it as an Indian product.