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***Belief about the holy power of Lek Num Phi Iron Ore***
Iron ore from Bo Lek Num phi is well-known for an incredible characteristic of being strong, tough and free from rust since the ancient time. A treatise on war strategy once mentioned about Lek Num Phi is a magical metal that processes sacred divine power. It is believed that Lek Num Phi Iron Ore can protect you from dark magic or any invisible bad power/thing. Regarded as a sacred metal since the ancient time, Lek Num Phi Iron Ore is then classified to be in the same group of metal element as Lhek Lhai
From the past to the present, Numphi villagers as well as other people who have faith in Lek Numphi Iron Ore, always believe that the metal is also protected by guardian spirits, known as Jao Pho Bo Lek. If a person would like to make use of Lek Num phi metal, s/he must worship the holy spirits first.
***General information about Lek Num Phi Iron Ore***
Lek Num Phi Iron Ore is found at Lhek Nam Phee mine, an Iron mine, is located at Ban Nam Phee, Moo 1, Thong Saen Khun District, Uttaradit Province. There are many mines and thousand of ancient iron smelting furnaces are found in the area of Ban Nam Phee. Out of these mines, the two most important ones which are reserved only for the kings, are called Phra Saeng mine and Phra Khan mine. Lhek Nam Phee ore consists of Iron as a main component. In fact, the ore is actually found to consist of Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Silicon (Si), Aluminium (Al), Titanium (Ti) and around 20 other types of elements.
Lhek Nam Phee ore has characteristics of strong and tough which do not come from only Carbon (C) as in the ordinary steel from production lines nowadays. In contrast, Lhek nam Phee consists of Manganese (Mn) which makes the material stronger and tougher compared to other types of steel.
Iron from Lhek Nam Phee mine was used to produce weapons for wars since ancient times, starting from Ayutthaya era until now. There are many historical evidences from historical documents, historical chronicles, and literature, especially for using Lhek Nam Phee ore in producing weapons for wars.
The evidences show that the weapons for military and people in the high rank are made from Lhek Nam Phee, for examples, Phra Saeng Khoa Ngao of King Naresuan which was used in Yuttahadhi, elephant battle, with Burmese Regent, Nantakawut Sword of Phraya Pichai of the broken sword, Lang Athan Sword of King Narai, Fa Fuen Sword of Khun Paen.
All of aforementioned weapons have Lhek Nam Phee as their ingredients. In Rattanakosin era, there was evidence that in the coronation ceremony of King Prajadhipok, Luang Charungratcharoen (Suk), mayor of Tron District at that time gave Lhek Nam Phee to Phraya Wisethluechai, governor of Uttaradit Province (2469-2471) for making sword in order to propose to the king as a royal weapon until today
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