Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s3.3

v2.c41.s3.3

Burdensome mines may be leased to individuals, but otherwise all large-profit mines and metal works should be operated by the state itself. All transactions — buying and selling — of minerals and metals — had to be executed with the state only (2.12.19; 2.22.10). The defaulters and other criminals were forced to labour in the mines. Salt works based on sea water could be lease-rented, but the state had to collect its share of crystal outcrops and fix the price (1.13.21; 2.12.18-22, 27-28 & 32).