Mineral Production during October 2014

The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of October (new Series 2004-05=100) 2014 at 125.0, was 5.2% higher as compared to October 2013. The cumulative growth for the period April- October 2014-15 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 2.4%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during October 2014 was Rs. 18204 crore. The contribution of: coal was the highest at Rs. 6289 crore (35%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 5849 crore, iron ore Rs. 2193 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2273 crore, lignite Rs. 336 crore and limestone Rs. 437 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in October 2014.

Production level of important minerals in October 2014 were: coal 497 lakh tonnes, lignite 30 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2748 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 32 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1255 thousand tonnes, chromite 127 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold 93 kg., iron ore 98 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 16 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 160 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 135 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 58 thousand tonnes, dolomite 492 thousand tonnes, limestone 247 lakh tonnes, magnesite 25 thousand tonnes and diamond 1537 carat.

The production of important minerals showing positive growth during October 2014 over October 2013 include ‘magnesite’ (67.6%), ‘coal’ (16.8%), ‘limestone’ (6.8%), ‘lignite’ (2.6%) and ‘petroleum (crude)’ (1.2%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: ‘bauxite’ [(-) 0.1%], ‘lead conc.’[(-) 1.4%)], ‘zinc conc.’ [(-) 1.5%)], ‘natural gas (utilized)’ [(-) 4.3%], ‘dolomite’ [(-) 6.8%], ‘iron ore’ [(-) 10.5%], ‘manganese ore’[(-) 13.4%], ‘copper conc.’ [(-) 13.7%], ‘chromite’ [(-)18.1%], ‘gold’ [(-) 18.4%], ,‘diamond’[(-) 45.1%], and ‘apatite & phosphorite’ [(-) 63.6%].

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NSK/NN