Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c45.s2.5

v2.c45.s2.5

The above description reminds us of a similar one for diamond (4.27), and it is possible that vaikrānta of *RRS* was indeed diamond of different colours. However the reference to *satvapātana* of the gem or extraction of metal from it (2.69-2.71) makes us wonder whether the name was also applied to some other hard mineral containing iron (magnetite) or manganese. Many authors have translated vaikrānta as tourmaline.