Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c26.s8.6

v1.c26.s8.6

As late as 1751, Postlewayt’s Universal Dictionary of Trade and Commerce had to admit ignorance of how the zinc metal was made in the East. In 1731, imported zinc commanded a price of 260 £ a ton on the London market, whereas the abundant calamine, used to make cementation brass, cost only 6 £ a ton. (Craddock et al., 1985: 51)