Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s4.17

v2.c41.s4.17

Section 2.11.31 describes mahānila (deep blue) indranila (sapphire, which is corundum or Al₂O₃ containing Ti, Fe and Co as impurities), a variation being asteriated or star, sapphire entitled sravanmadhya, bluish gem ‘having rays shooting like flowing water’. Later mahānila was distinguished from indranila in the text Agastimata, as the deep blue variety from Sri Lanka in which ‘the colours of the rainbow sparkle’.