History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c36.s6.2

c36.s6.2

*Vaikranta*.—It is described to possess eight faces and six angles and to exhibit a great range of colours. This possibly refers to a mineral crystallizing in the octahedral form, viz., the family of spinels, or to one crystallizing in hexagonal prisms like corrundum. But neither of these minerals are liquefiable as stated in Rasaratnasamuchchaya (The Gems, loc cit.).