The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of November (new Series 2004-05=100) 2015 at 131.5, was 2.3% higher as compared to November 2014.
The cumulative growth for the period April- November 2015-16 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 2.1%.
The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during November 2015 was Rs. 19381 crore.
The contribution of Coal was the highest at Rs. 8266 crore (43%). Next in the order of importance were:
- Petroleum (crude) Rs. 5525 crore,
- Natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2177 crore,
- Iron ore Rs. 1791 crore,
- Limestone Rs. 463 crore
- Lignite Rs.286 crore.
These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in November 2015.
Production level of important minerals in November 2015 were: Coal 568 lakh tonnes, Lignite 23 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilized) 2632 million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 30 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 1934 thousand tonnes, Chromite 290 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 12 thousand tonnes, Gold 102 kg., Iron ore 130 lakh tonnes, Lead conc. 20 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 173 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 128 thousand tonnes, Apatite & Phosphorite 131 thousand tonnes, Limestone 231 lakh tonnes, Magnesite 22 thousand tonnes and Diamond 2117 carat.
The production of important minerals showing positive growth during November 2015 over November 2014 include Chromite’ (124%), ‘Iron ore’ (41.7%), ‘Copper conc.’ (38%), ‘Apatite & Phosphorite’ (21.7%), ‘Lead conc. (18.9 %), ‘Bauxite’ (17.7%), ‘Magnesite’ (13.6%), ‘Coal’ (3.7%), and ‘Limestone’ ( 3.3%).
The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are:
- Lignite [-30.6%],
- Diamond [-25.4%],
- Gold [-19%],
- Manganese ore [- 8%],
- Zinc conc.[- 4.5%],
- Natural gas (utilized) [- 3.4%],
- Petroleum (crude) [-3.3%].