Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c45.s6.3

v2.c45.s6.3

derived from the root luha which means to be extracted. Four śuddha or pure lohas were named: suvarṇa, rajata, tāmra and loha (iron). Low melting-point metals such as nāga (lead) and vaṅga (tin) were known as pūtilohas. Pittala (brass), kāṃsya (bell-metal) and vartaloha (five metal alloy) were known as miśralohas or alloys. It is noted that by the time of RRS, iron came to be known as loha or lauha, and brass as pittala or pītala, derived from pīta tāla or yellow metal. Along with bell-metal, brass was known as a kṛtrima loha or miśra loha (10.66).