Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c41.s5.2

v2.c41.s5.2

In use as pigments were *añjana*, antimony sulphide (2.11.35; 2.12.6 & 24) *manahśilā*, red arsenic sulphide (2.12.2; 2.14.48 etc.), *haritāla*, yellow arsenic sulphide (2.14.48; 2.22.6) and *hinguluka*, mercuric sulphide (2.13.19 & 46 etc.). These were also used as alloying reagents. Another pigment *gāndhāra* red lead (2.14.35) was used like *hinguluka* for embedding gold on metals. *Kāsīsa* green iron sulphate (2.13.19) and *sasyaka*, blue copper sulphate (2.11.35; 2.12.6) were used for colouring agents and later as mordants in dyeing clothes. Corundum or *kuruvinda*, having hardness nine in Moh’s Scale, was appropriately used as an abrasive (2.14.48) like diamond powder.