Copper in Ancient India c12.4

c12.4

As regards ancient copper mining and copper slag in the Singhbhum Disirict, where an English company is still working copper mines, Ball, the well-known geologist writes—"Indications exist of mining and smelting having been carried on in this region from a very early period and the evidence available points to the Seraks or lay Jains as being the persons who, perhaps 2000 years ago, initiated the mining." Dr. Stoehr who was brought as an expert from England and on whose report the present English Company has started copper mining operations in the Singhbhum district, has in his reports borne abundant testimony to the fact that copper mining was carried there on an extensive scale in ancient times. He reported that signs of numerous mines and deposits of copper slag were abundantly visible in the hills west of Asanabani, in Badia, in Masanboni, in the hills west and north-west of Surda, in the Sideshor hills south-west of Ruma and in some other parts of the Singhbhum district.