Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c44.s5.t1.9

v2.c44.s5.t1.9

Lohitākṣa (carnelian), masārakalla or marakata (emerald), veruliya or vaidūrya (beryl), gomeda (zircon), phāliya or sphaṭika (quartz) were adored as gems. Khāramaṇi was a general name modified according to colour: raktakhāra (garnet), svetakhāra or vimalaka (pyrite?), nīlakhāra (sapphire), kālakhāra (galena?), etc. The gems like coral, pearl, chank- or conch-shell, ivory, etc. were separately categorised as praṇayonigata or those having biological origin. The metals were beaten, khāramaṇis scalloped, coral and chank were rubbed (ghaṭṭha) and the pearls smoothened (parimaddita).