History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c15.8

c15.8

*Gold Ores*:—"These are obtained from plains or slopes of mountains, and are either yellow, or reddish yellow, or as red as copper in colour. They are marked with spots like drop of curd and resplendent as turmeric, yellow myrobolan, petals of a lotus, aquatic plant. the liver or the spleen. These ores are as yellow as ripe turmeric, sulphide of arsenic (*haritala*), honeycomb and vermilion. They are very heavy. There is a sandy layer within them and they contain globular masses. when roasted they do not split but emit much foam and smoke. (This indicates the presence of organic matter) They are used to form amalgams with copper and silver". That is they are made use of in converting copper or silver into gold This furnishes evidence of the practice of alchemy in Kautilya's time. (82)∗