Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c40.s1: Mine and Mineral Engineering

Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c40.s1

Language: English

Mine and Mineral Engineering

v2.c40.s1.1

Pāṇini recognised that the word khan or to dig (well, mine etc.) had appeared in the Chandas or the Vedic literature. He explained (3.2.67) the genesis of the derivative words ākhanika and khanitra meaning a spade. Mani-prastāra (3.3.32) or scattering or vein of gems was recorded as an important mineralogical information. The commercial importance of mining during Pāṇini’s time is revealed from his discussion on ākarika (4.3.75) which meant miner, mining officer as well as mining revenue.

v2.c40.s1.2

Utilisation of big-size rocks containing specific minerals involved size-reduction and purification and, in the case of metal extraction, certain steps in process metallurgy. Jambhaka (7.1.61) alluded to crushing using jaw which reminds us of the modern-day jaw crusher. Further size reduction or grinding peṣam could be done under dry condition (śuṣka/rūkṣa/cūrṇa) or under wet condition (udpeṣam) (Pāṇ., 3.4. 35-38, 6.3.58, etc.). Crushing resulted in small particles of different sizes and densities, and therefore these were separated (or purified) from each other by several technique including winnowing or paripavana (8.4.34). Winnowing is a pneumatic (air) separation/purification technique exemplified in the traditional separation between rice and husk. Pavana means air and pāvaka means purifier. There seems to be an etymological relationship between the two words.

Linked texts (1)

Aṣṭādhyāyī — Pāṇini, Sanskrit