Copper in Ancient India c5.9

c5.9

As regards metallurgy of copper, alchemical literature gives formulae for preparing copper by heating copper pyrites with various organic substances in closed crucibles. Description of the process of manufacture on a large scale as well as of furnaces is however wanting. Fortunately the old indigenous process of manufacturing copper from pyrites still continues in several places in Rajputana, Sikkim and Nepal and from the description of these processes as left by several observers about a century ago we get some idea of the process and furnaces as might have existed in ancient India. The pyrites after proper roasting was heated with charcoal and flux in small blast furnaces, the blast being provided by hand bellows.