Dust of ores (turab al-maadin)

Dust of ores is what falls from the ore itself without mixing with another substance. It has rulings for water, tayammum, zakat and sale. ^{1 2}

For the jurists, a mine (ma'dan) is what is in the earth by creation; the word is used both for the thing extracted and for the place it is taken from. Buried treasure (kanz) is hidden property, and the ruling-deposit (rikaz) is wider than both, and the Shafi'is restrict it to a treasure buried in the time of ignorance. ^{1 2} Ores are of three kinds: solids that melt and can be beaten, such as gold, silver and iron; solids that do not melt, such as plaster, lime and kohl; and liquids that do not set, such as water, pitch and oil. ²

The Hanafis and Malikis hold that absolute water changed by ore dust is not harmed and may be used for purification, since the change comes from what is part of the earth. The Shafi'is and Hanbalis hold that water changed by something that cannot be kept from it does not prevent purification if it stays in its place or passage. ^{2 3}

The Shafi'is and Hanbalis hold that tayammum is valid only with clean earth, or with sand that has clinging dust; stone and ores with no dust do not serve. ³ Abu Hanifa allowed tayammum with any ore that neither melts nor softens, such as plaster, lime and kohl; metals that soften and melt, such as iron, copper, gold and silver, may be used only where they lie, and only when earth prevails over them. ^{3 4} The Malikis allow tayammum with ores while they are not moved from their place, except for gold and silver minted or not. ⁴

Jurists agree that zakat is due on gold and silver mines. The rules for other ores are in the entry on zakat. ⁴

If the dust is of one kind, selling one part for another is not allowed according to the Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis, since equality is unknown. If it is of different kinds, such as gold dust for silver dust, the Hanafis and Malikis allow it and the Hanbalis dislike it for its uncertainty. The Shafi'is forbid its sale before it is refined and the gold and silver separated from it. ⁴