The caste system has evidently been more flexible, in terms of appropriate work for Brahmins, than one might expect. Records from the classical and medieval periods in India mention men of the Brahmin class performing work other than carrying out priestly duties or teaching about religion.
Spanish conquerors discovered that South America was home to rich veins of silver and silver ore, and they mined that wealth enthusiastically; according to the Silver Institute, an industry trade group, 85 percent of the silver produced worldwide came from Bolivia, Peru and Mexico between 1500 and 1800.
Sources of agate Probably the most famous place that agate is mined is Idar-Oberstein in Germany where it has been collected since 1548. Other locations to find agate are Uruguay, Brazil, United States, Mexico, Madagascar, Italy, Egypt, India, China, Scotland.