Context: The Charaka Samhita, thought to have been written between 300 and 500 AD, mentions a metal which, when oxidized, produces pushpanjan, thought to be zinc oxide. Zinc mines at Zawar, near Udaipur in India, have been active since the Mauryan period. The smelting of metallic zinc here, however, appears to have begun around the 12th century AD. One estimate is that this location produced an estimated million tonnes of metallic zinc and zinc oxide from the 12th to 16th centuries. Another estimate gives a total production of 60,000 tonnes of metallic zinc over this period. The Rasaratna Samuccaya, written in approximately the 13th century AD, mentions two types of zinc-containing ores: one used for metal extraction and another used for medicinal purposes.

Question: Zinc oxide is believed to be mentioned in what ancient text?
Answer: The Charaka Samhita

Question: Active zinc mines in India date back to what period?
Answer: Mauryan period

Question: What process occurred around the 12th century?
Answer: smelting of metallic zinc

Question: When was the Rasaratna Samuccaya written?
Answer: 13th century AD,

Question: What are the two uses of zinc ore mentioned in the Rasaratna Samuccaya?
Answer: metal extraction and another used for medicinal purposes

Question: What ancient text forbids the use of Zinc oxide?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What period do active zinc mines in China date back to?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What process occurred around the 6th century?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: When was the Rasaratna Samuccaya destroyed?
Answer: Unanswerable

Question: What is the only use of zinc ore mentioned in the Rasaratna Samuccaya?
Answer: Unanswerable