Mineral production during August 2009

The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in August 2009 was higher by 2.94% compared to that of the preceding month. However, the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 8.38% during the current financial year i.e. April- August 2009-10 as compared to that of the previous year. The mineral production in August 2009 was higher by 12.88% as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during August 2009 was Rs. 8336 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 3001 crore (36%). Next in the order of importance were: iron ore Rs. 1679 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs. 1546 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1182 crore, lignite Rs. 202 crore and limestone Rs. 216 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94% of the total value of mineral production in August 2009.

Production level of important minerals in August 2009 were: coal 381 lakh tonnes, lignite 24 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 3788 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1017 thousand tonnes, chromite 304 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold 201 kg., iron ore 174 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 9 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 201 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 102 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 147 thousand tonnes, dolomite 387 thousand tonnes, limestone 176 lakh tones, magnesite 22 thousand tones and diamond 1737 carats.

In August 2009, the output of diamond increased by 55.09%, chromite 22.29%, manganese ore 19.44% apatite & phosphorite 15.85%, iron ore 8.15%, coal 4.9%, natural gas (utilized) 3.24% and lignite 1.05 percent. However, the production of bauxite decreased by 0.20%, gold 0.5%, petroleum (crude) 0.54%, limestone 2.06%, dolomite 4.06%, magnesite 5.31%, copper conc. 6.30%, zinc conc. 6.7% and lead conc. 20.92 percent.

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NSK/AK