Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c45.s4.3

v2.c45.s4.3

*Gairika* (red ochre) could be deep red (*svarṇa gairika*) or copper-coloured (*pāṣāṇa gairika*) (RRS, 3.46-3.48). An earlier scholar Nandi was quoted to say that *gairika* is itself a *satva* or metal. *RRS* quoted dissenting scholars saying that *satva* (iron) can be obtained from *gairika* (iron oxide) (3.49).