OREANDA-NEWS. The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of May (new Series 2004-05=100) 2016 at 129.5, was 1.3% higher as compared to May 2015. The cumulative growth for the period April- May 2016-17 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 1.2%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during May 2016 was Rs. 18809 crore. The contribution of Coal was the highest at Rs. 7423 crore (39%). Next in the order of importance were: Petroleum (crude) Rs. 5595 crore, Natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2122 crore, Iron ore Rs. 1968 crore, Limestone Rs. 545 crore and Lignite Rs.406 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in May 2016.

Production level of important minerals in May 2016 were: Coal 517 lakh tonnes, Lignite 32 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilized) 2566 million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 31 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 2389 thousand tonnes, Chromite 253 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 12 thousand tonnes, Gold 93 kg., Iron ore 166 lakh tonnes, Lead conc. 18 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 191 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 62 thousand tonnes, Apatite & Phosphorite 57 thousand tonnes, Limestone 264 lakh tonnes, Magnesite 23 thousand tonnes and Diamond 3132 carat.