Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c45.s3.8

v2.c45.s3.8

The material could be red lead or, if the colour is not red, even mica-resembling galena; these produce, on reduction, lead or the metal known as nāga or ahi. Maṇḍūka variety is yellow, bursting into fragments when put on fire. Vajra variety of abhraka is black and does not change when put on fire (2.7-2.8). It was believed that yellow mica could produce gold, and white mica could produce silver through reaction with mercury (RRS, 2.9-2.10). This belief led to elaboration of the procedures for satvapātana (metal-extraction) from abhraka (2.27-2.38).