Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s4.10

v2.c41.s4.10

The author of the Arthaśāstra did not possess our present-day knowledge of elements and their compounds, and thus could not present any sophisticated classification of gem-minerals. His classification was naturally based upon colour and lustre. Such a classification, made in the ancient world, inevitably resulted in considerable confusion since radically different kinds of gems sometimes possess similar colour, and very small quantities of impurities often alter the colour of the gem radically. Thus, the correlations between the ancient and modern nomenclature of gem-minerals are at best tentative. Archaeologically derived samples may however be subjected to modern instrumental tests for confirmation.