Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c50.103

v2.c50.103

*Lavaṇādhyakṣaḥ* : master of salt works (2.12.28) *Lohādhyakṣaḥ* : the director of metal-work (2.12.23) *Vajra* : diamond (2.6.4, 2.11.37, 2.12.27) *Varṇa* : colour or quality (2.14.5, 3.12.53, 4.1.30) *Varṇikā* : the standard gold (2.13.17) *Vāsaya* : to gild (2.13.46) *Vāsitaka* : gilding (2.14.17) *Vāstuka* : the base or frame of a gold article (2.13.43, 2.14.35, 39 and 46) *Viḍa/bida* : salt containing chlorides of sodium and calcium, also sulphate and some red iron oxide (from sea-water) (2.15.15) *Vimalaka* : white-red gem from Vimala (Girnar) mountains. Carnelian? Pyrite? (2.11.35, 2.12.6) *Viṣṭi* : sappers, miners and labourers (9.2.9, 10.1.9 and 17, 10.4.17) *Vija* : additive alloying element to harden (2.12.24) *Vṛtta* : steel or carburised iron (2.12.23, 2.17.14, 3.17.8, 4.1.35) *Vedhana* : which transmutes through smelting (2.12.3 and 5) *Vellaka* : an alloy of silver and iron in equal proportions (2.14.22) *Vaikṛntaka* : a kind of metal (2.12.16 and 23; 2.17.14, 4.1.35). Some special kind of alloy of iron? Later *vaikrānta* meant a gem like diamond. *Vaidūrya* : beryl (2.11.30) *Śaṅkha* : conch-shell (2.6.4, 2.12.27, 7.12.24) *Śilājatu* : bitumen or ‘lac of the rock’ (2.12.4) *Śukti* : oyster, nacre (2.11.35) *Śulka* : duty, toll (2.21.2) *Śulkaśālā* : the customs house (2.21.1) *Śulva* : two meanings: (1) copper (2.13.16 and 44; 2.14.20-22 and 30-31); (2) underground vein of metal ore (2.12.1) or water (2.24.1) *Śvetatāra* : white silver (2.13.50, 51 and 54) *Sattva* : the metallic content (or essence) (2.12.7) *Samyūha* : to coat, to plate (2.13.44, 2.14.48)