Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c42.s2.t1.11

v2.c42.s2.t1.11

Emerald is the deep green variety of beryl. This gem was not available in the South, and it is doubtful whether the Udaipur, Rajasthan reserve was tapped that early. Most probably the supply of emerald came from the Asiatic side of the Ural mountains, 80 km east of Sverdlosk, or from Ethiopia or Egypt. At any rate, according to Pliny and the *Periplus*, Rome received emerald at one stage through India alone; this trade was possible only during the Christian era. The *Mahābhārata* refers to emerald, *marakata* or *masāra* in several places: