Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c45.s9.9

v2.c45.s9.9

Mundaloha was presumably wrought iron obtained by direct solid state reduction. The name probably originated from Mundiā, one of the metalsmith tribes in the district of Bastar, whose ancient iron-making process has been scientifically observed and recorded by Prakash and Igaki (1984). Low carbon materials *mrdu* was soft; *drutadrāva* is better translated as ‘softening quickly’ rather than ‘melting quickly’, since wrought iron would not have a low melting point. With more carbon, *kuntham* and *kaḍāram* varieties became less ductile. *Kaḍāram* was even brittle; black fracture indicated graphite at the interface.