Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c45.s7.15

v2.c45.s7.15

For making statues, 1-4 per cent lead is added in brass to help in fluidity during casting. But lead is almost insoluble in the liquid and solid brass phases, and thus a little excess of lead appears as black globules and elongated grains; this also causes the turnings to break up into small pieces. *Kākatundī* was probably leaded brass, the source of lead being the zinc ore itself. The *RRS* mentioned (8.18-19) that lead was often used to make *śulvanāga* or copper-lead alloy.