Minerals and their Exploitation in Ancient and Pre-modern India

The paper highlights the archaeological and literary evidence corroborating ancient India's primacy in the field of mineralogy and metallurgy. As we knew mineral is a naturally occuring crystalline element or a compound having definite chemical composition, and formed as a product of inorganic processes. The synthesis of new amorphous forms, biologically precipitated materials have put mineralogy at a cross-road. Both the scientist and archaeologists have legitimately taken broader interest in 'materials'. The paper gives stress on India's primacy in lapidary art, chalcedony, conch-shell, pearl, diamond, beryl, emerald, many other gems, and metallurgical prac-tices related to laminated and forged iron, brass, zinc, crucible steel. etc, Further, it has been attempted to trace the history, technology and occurrence of various minerals from evidence excavated by archeologists. The sample has been taken from the various periods right from pre-Harappan civilisation of India to modern India.