Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s3.2

v2.c41.s3.2

The Arthaśāstra advised the Director of Mines to concentrate on the more accessible mines needing less capital investment and yielding large quantities of commodities and large profit over a number of years. The temptation for mining highly valuable gems should be controlled since such materials were rarely obtained in large quantities in one place, and the buyers were few and rarely available (7.12.13-16, 25 & 31). We may recall Pliny’s comment (31.39) in this context that the Salt Range supplied more revenue to the king than gold and pearls.