Ancient lead and zinc mining in Rajasthan, India

Willies, Lynn; Craddock, Paul; Gurjar, L. J.; Hegde, K. T. M.

doi:10.1080/00438243.1984.9979929

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Lynn Willies (1984) described in details the old workings at Zawarmalamagra and at Rajpura-Dariba along with old photographic plates, location details and sketch plans. He adopted field visit and carbon dating of the pottery finds associated with these mining sites for verification (Willies, 1983).…”

Section: Zinc Lead and Silvermentioning

confidence: 99%

History of Mining in India

Soni¹

2020

Indian Journal of History of Science

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Mining of minerals is an age-old process continuing since centuries. Indeed, it was started with pick-axe and chisel, way back in pre-Harappan times and pre-Christian era. An insight into the history of mining in India, one of the oldest civilizations of the world, will enable the readers to know how our ancestors were digging minerals from the earth womb with minimum tools and inadequate infrastructure. Describing the history in limited pages is not possible, however, an attempt has been made on the basis of available authentic records. The first third of this paper describes ancient mining and metallurgy in general, encompassing India as well as known ancient civilizations of the world. It is followed by a focussed history of the coal mining industry in India. The third part focuses on mineral-wise excavation history including metallic artefacts like copper, silver and gold with present insight. In brief, this paper attempts to provide a useful insight with reference to India for all readers, directly or indirectly, and whether connected with mining /mineral industry or not.

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Section: Zinc Lead and Silvermentioning

confidence: 99%

History of Mining in India

Soni¹

2020

Indian Journal of History of Science

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“…It has been revealed by archeological evidence that the metallic zinc was distilled and condensed by using specially designed retorts ~1000 years ago in Zawar, northwest India [ 5 ]. Primary sources for zinc smelting in Zawar mainly come from the sulfidic ore deposits of the Aravalli Hills, mainly constituted by sphalerite (ZnS), galena (PbS), and pyrite (FeS 2 ) [ 6 ]. However, the smelting residues show that the metal was obtained from smelting of oxidized zinc ores [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microstructure, Mineralogical Characterization and the Metallurgical Process Reconstruction of the Zinc Calcine Relics from the Zinc Smelting Site (Qing Dynasty)

Xiao

Zhou

et al. 2021

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The smelting of zinc is considered as one of the most challenging technologies in ancient civilization. Compared with non-sulfide zinc ores, the smelting of zinc sulfide ores is more complicated since they have to be roasted before smelting. The technological smelting process of the ancient zinc metallurgy technology has been studied and partly reconstructed. However, the roasting technology, including the roasting conditions and involved metallurgical processes, is still unclear. The discovery of the zinc smelting site of Doulingxia dates back to the Qing dynasty (CE 1636–1912), and for the first time provides us with critical archeological evidence to gain an insight into the roasting technology in ancient zinc metallurgy technology. In this paper, the microstructure and mineralogical features of the zinc calcine relics found at the Doulingxia site were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS). To reconstruct the metallurgical process, the original roasting temperature of the unearthed zinc calcine was estimated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), combined with reheating experiments and phase composition analysis as well as microstructural analysis. The simulation experiments were conducted to reconstruct the roasting process. The results indicated that the original roasting temperature of the unearthed zinc calcine should be in a range of 650–850 °C, most probably near 750 °C. As long as the retention time is long enough, all sphalerite can be oxidized when the roasting temperature is above 650 °C. The final roasting products mainly include tiny porous particles of ZnFe2O4, Fe2O3, PbSO4, and ZnO. These findings are helpful to reconstruct the ancient zinc metallurgy technology of zinc sulfide ores.

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“…Mining for metals in India is going on for the past several centuries and relics of ore extraction over the Pb-Zn deposits of Dariba, Rajasthan typically depict mining activities from the ancient times [1]. Several older workings in the form of irregular pits, trenches and small diameter shafts are seen around the area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Borehole GPR investigations from underground for mapping the extension of old working at a Pb-Zn Mine in Rajasthan, India

Sandeep¹,

Butchi²,

Jha³

et al. 2016

Proceedings of the Conference on Recent Advances in Rock Engineering (RARE 2016)

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Conventional GPR reflection surveys in base metal sulphide mines are sometimes marred by scattering due to heterogeneity or presence of disseminated sulphide minerals. Surface scanning in such areas have its own limitations as the depth of investigation is adversely influenced by the highly lossy medium. Alternatively, borehole GPR investigation from underground can be an efficient tool for sensing the proximity of old workings including cavities left over by past ore extraction. In the present study two borehole GPR techniques were used from underground to establish the boundary of old workings in a Pb-Zn mine. Cross-hole transmission mode data from a stepped-frequency GPR was analysed to delineating the zone of influence created by ancient mining activity. Two parameters namely velocity and attenuation of radar waves were used to examine the intervening geological medium. Single-hole reflection survey was also carried out to scan the medium around the borehole. The result of cross-hole GPR survey is a plot of radar wave attenuation along the horizontal plane of survey. The attenuation plot clearly delineated the zone affected by past mining activity; however cavity type features were not mapped. Even though exploratory drill holes showed evidences of old workings up to 250-260 m depth from the ground surface, the present borehole GPR investigation from an underground gallery at 298 m depth confirmed that old workings did not cross the horizontal plane of investigation.

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Ancient lead and zinc mining in Rajasthan, India

Cited by 16 publications

References 1 publication

History of Mining in India

History of Mining in India

Microstructure, Mineralogical Characterization and the Metallurgical Process Reconstruction of the Zinc Calcine Relics from the Zinc Smelting Site (Qing Dynasty)

Borehole GPR investigations from underground for mapping the extension of old working at a Pb-Zn Mine in Rajasthan, India

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