Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s1.11

v2.c44.s1.11

Minerals like sulphate of copper, sulphate of iron (*aśmakāsīsa*), realgar (*manaḥśila*), orpiment (*haritāla*), and sulphur (*gandhaka*) were prescribed for external application in many skin diseases. Under the recipe of a pearl compound, there is mention of pearl, powder of iron, copper and sulphur. The metals were obviously used after being roasted with sulphur. This was one of the early landmarks of *rasaśāstra* or Indian alchemy. The text also described the uses of coral, lapis lazuli, ashes of conch-shell, calces of iron and copper (‘killing’ of metals to produce oxides), sulphide of antimony (*sauvīrāñjana*), etc. The mention of coral (*vidruma*), emerald (*marakata*), *romaka*, etc. indicated that a part of the *Saṃhitā* was written after the trade with Rome had been started.