Chapter 2 - Minerals and Metals in the Rigveda

II=5
and also copper have been known to exist in the native or metallic
state. It is quite likely that Man obtained these three metals
in the chalcolithic age solely by melting the ore, using fire and
some kind of furnace. At a later stage, copper = ores (sulphide
or oxd de) were smelted or reduced to the metallic state by using
fuel wood or atas, the carbonaceous matter in it serving as the
fuel as well as the reductant.
The valuable ore body has been known in the Vedic literature
as nidhi (Rv 2.24.6 etc.). Mining was known in elementary fom.
The mined product khani trima (7.49.2) was obtained by using
digging tool or khanitra (1.179.6). Grinding
(1.28.4), using
musala or pestle and ulukhala or mortar (1.28.1-6) was done before
the ore-body was put into the furnace.
We have indicated before the controversy as to whether
Kāmāra in 9.112.2 stands for stone-worker or blacksmith. May be
there was no fine distinction between the two professions in the
Rgvedic age. Kamara in Rv. 10.72.2 was however clearly a metal-
smith who blew in a furnace and made metal objects presumably by
casting of molten metal. He is associated with the act of blowing
(dhama) in a furnace in order to purify or prepare the metal
(Rv. 4.2.17, 10.72.2), and was therefore known as dhmätar or one
who blows (5.9.5).
मानेव धमति शिशीने ध्यातरी सथा
ब्रह्मणस्पतिरेता से कर्नार इवाधमत्
( [māneva dhamati śiśīne dhyātarī sathā
brahmaṇaspatiretā se karnāra ivādhamat
(] 5.9.5)
(10.72.2)