Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c42.s2.t1.22

v2.c42.s2.t1.22

Sunstone (*sūryakānta* or *arka*) and moonstone (*candrakānta*) both belong to the feldspar family. In the sunstone structure, embedded hematite or goethite crystals scatter an internal glow of yellowish or reddish beams, and thus the mineral exhibits self-luminescence. The reference 12.46.33 quoted earlier, describes the chariot of the Lord Kṛṣṇa bedecked with gold, emerald and arka or sunstone. Was Kṛṣṇa’s *syamantaka* a piece of sunstone or diamond?