Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c24.s2.t1.2

v1.c24.s2.t1.2

It is also possible, as Warmington says, that Indians were receiving excess (more than the country’s production or requirement) copper which was positively exported to the Persian Gulf posts for the Pārthians etc. who were hostile to the Romans. Ptolemy speaks of numerous copper mines in northern India. These mines were possibly closed during the first century AD or partly operating on account of the incessant hostilities between the Śakas, Kuṣāṇas and the local inhabitants. The situation improved by the time of Ptolemy, and few centuries later, Cosmas found indigenous copper at Kalyāṇa.