The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of January (new Series 2004-05=100) 2017 at 146.1, was 5.3% higher as compared to January 2016. The cumulative growth for the period April- January 2016-17 over the corresponding period of previous year has been (+) 1.4 percent.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during January 2017 was Rs. 22775 crore. The contribution of Coal was the highest at Rs. 9535 crore (42%). Next in the order of importance were: Petroleum (crude) Rs. 5591 crore, Iron ore Rs. 2657 crore, Natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2192 crore, Lignite Rs.901 crore and Limestone Rs. 587 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94% of the total value of mineral production in January 2017.

Production level of important minerals in January 2017 were: Coal 652 lakh tonnes, Lignite 51 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilized) 2650 million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 31 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 2248 thousand tonnes, Chromite 259 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 13 thousand tonnes, Gold 139 kg., Iron ore 186 lakh tonnes, Lead conc. 28 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 221 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 168 thousand tonnes, Apatite &Phosphorite 75 thousand tonnes, Limestone 269 lakh tonnes, Magnesite 22 thousand tonnes and Diamond 3670 carat.

The production of important minerals showing positive growth during January 2017 over January 2016 include: ‘Zinc conc.’ (87.0%), ‘Lead conc. (36.7%), ‘Gold’ (35.0%), ‘Diamond’ (31.8%), ‘Iron ore’ (26.5%), ‘Bauxite’ (22.4%), ‘Manganese ore’ (21.4%), ‘Lignite’ (19.1%), ‘Natural gas (utilized)’ (11.3%), ‘Copper conc.’ (8.8%), ‘Coal’ (3.7%) ‘Petroleum (crude)’ (1.3%) and ‘Magnesite’ (0.1%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: ‘Chromite’ [(-) 17.2%], Apatite &Phosphorite’ [(-) 14.8%] and ‘Limestone’ [(-) 3.6%]. YSK

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