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.
In the past, India has been a world leader, but now the fourth largest producer. 95% of the country's iron ore come from Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Karnataka. The biggest deposits in the country are in Orissa state.