Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c26.2

v1.c26.2

The earliest method of making brass was possibly the cementation process in which finely divided copper fragments were intimately mixed with roasted zinc ore (oxide) and reducing agent such as charcoal, and heated to 1000°C in a sealed crucible. Zinc vapour formed dissolved into the copper fragments yielding a poor quality brass, zinc percentage of which could not be easily controlled.