The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in May 2005 increased by 2.22 per cent against the preceding month due to increased production of coal, lignite, petroleum (crude), natural gas (utilised), gold, iron ore, lead conc., manganese ore, zinc conc., dolomite and limestone. It recorded a growth of 3.64 per cent against May 2004.
The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during the month was Rs.5,776 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 2,188 crore (38 per cent). Next in the order of importance were : petroleum (crude) Rs.1,576 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs.770 crore, iron ore Rs.610 crore, lignite Rs. 216 crore and limestone Rs.164 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 96 per cent of the total value of mineral production in May 2005.
Production levels of important minerals during the month were : coal 311 lakh tonnes, lignite 30 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2,656 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tonnes, bauxite 657 thousand tonnes, chromite 203 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 11 thousand tonnes, gold 270 kg., iron ore 143 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 10 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 163 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 80 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 98 thousand tonnes, dolomite 356 thousand tonnes, limestone 151 lakh tonnes and magnesite 32 thousand tonnes.
During the month, the output of lead conc. increased by 47 per cent, zinc conc. 36 per cent, lignite 13..8 per cent, gold 10.7 per cent, natural gas (utilised) 6.8 per cent, limestone 3.4 per cent, iron ore 3.2 per cent and petroleum (crude) 1.0 per cent and nominal increase was observed in the output of coal, manganese ore and dolomite. However, the output of bauxite decreased by 34.3 per cent, apatite & phosphorite 18.4 per cent, copper conc. 4.5 per cent, chromite 3.5 per cent and magnesite 0.8 per cent.
DS/SCH
(Release ID :10252)