Introduction
India is extraordinarily rich- both in quantity and quality of its iron ore deposits. The ores primarily comprise haematite and magnetite.
Haematite contains upto 68% metal content, while magnetite asserts upto 60%. Then comes limotitie- an inferior quality iron ore. The latest official figures about the iron ore reserves are a little over 13,000 million tonnes. The élite quality reserves of iron-ore are located in Singhbhum in Bihar and Keonjhar, Bonai and Mayurbhanj in Orissa. Second in line is Chhatisgarh with Raipur, Durg and Bastar districts. The Bailadila mines in Bastar have been developed with Japanese collaboration. Ores are mechanically transported to Visakhapatnam for agile despatch on their way to Japan.
The other iron-ore deposits are found in several districts of Andhra Pradesh, Salem and Tinichirapalli districts of Tamil Nadu, and Chikmagalur and Bellari districts of Karnataka. Goa also has iron-ore deposits, which are habitually shipped to Japan from Portuguese times.
Production of iron-ore was 3 million tonnes in 1950-51. By 1997-98 it had surpassed the 70 million tonne mark. Ports specialising in export of iron-ore comprise Visakhapatnam, Marma Goa, Paradip and Calcutta. Kudremukh manufactures iron pallets and are anticipated to be exported from Mangalore port. Indian iron-ore has enormous requirement in international market because of its rich iron contents.
Use of Iron Pyrites as Medicines
Iron pyrites is met with in many parts of India, and has been used in medicine from a very remote period. It occurs in two forms, namely, in dark yellow nodules with a golden lustre, and in, silvery, radiated crystals. The former is called Svarnamakshika and the latter Taramakshika. The ancients supposed that they contained gold and silver respectively, in combination with other ingredients, and possessed in part the properties of those precious metals.
Processing of Iron Pyrites : Chemically iron pyrites consists of bisulphide of iron. It is purified by being boiled in lemon juice with one-third of its weight of rock salt in an iron vessel, till the pot turns red hot. It is reduced to powder by being rubbed with oil or goat"s urine and then roasted in a closed crucible. Iron pyrites thus prepared which has a sweetish bitter taste.
Benefits of Iron Pyrites : Iron pyrites is considered as tonic, alterative and useful in anaemia, urinary diseases, ascites, anasarca, prurigo, eye diseases, etc. As an alterative tonic it is generally used in combination with other medicines of its class, such as iron, talc, mercury etc.
Dose of Iron Pyrites in Medicine : The following is an example of Iron Pyrites used in medicine. Take prepared iron, sesamum seeds, long pepper, black pepper and ginger, each 1 part, iron pyrites 5 parts. Beat into a mass with honey. Dose should be about half a drachm in advanced anaemia.
In diseases of the pregnant state, the following called Garbha vinoda rasa is much used, as an alterative tonic. Take iron pyrites and cinnabar, each 4 tolas, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, each 3 tolas, cloves and mace, each 6 tolas, beat them together with water and divide into pills about 4 grains each. One pill should be taken twice daily.
Use of Sulphate of Iron as Medicines
Sulphate of Iron is indigenous to India and has been used in medicine from a very ancient age. Two sorts of sulphate of iron are mentioned, namely, Dhatukasis or green variety and Phushpa kasis or yellowish variety. It is seldom used internally.
Dose of Sulphate of Iron as Medicine : Externally, it is used in skin diseases along with other medicines. Thus take sulphate of iron, gall-stone of cows (Gorochana), rusot and orpiment, equal parts and beat into to a paste with Kanjika. It is useful in intertrigo, pruritis etc.
Kasisadya Taila: Take sesamum oil 4 seers, water 16 seers, sulphate of iron, wood of Withania somnifera (asvagandha), bark of Symplocos racemosa (lodhra), root of Pothos officinalis (Gajapipul), each 16 tolas. Beat the solid ingredients into a paste and boil it with the oil and water in the usual way. This oil is recommended to be applied to the genitals and the breasts with the view of strengthening these parts.
