OREANDA-NEWS. The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of June (new Series 2004-05=100) 2016 at 127.3, was 4.7% higher as compared to June 2015. The cumulative growth for the period April- June 2016-17 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 2.3%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during June 2016 was Rs. 18344 crore. The contribution of Coal was the highest at Rs. 7171 crore (39%). Next in the order of importance were: Petroleum (crude) Rs. 5393 crore, Natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2077 crore, Iron ore Rs. 1802 crore, Limestone Rs. 584 crore and Lignite Rs.517 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in June 2016.

Production level of important minerals in June 2016 were: Coal 517 lakh tonnes, Lignite 37 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilized) 2511 million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 30 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 2177 thousand tonnes, Chromite 297 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, Gold 114 kg., Iron ore 150 lakh tonnes, Lead conc. 17 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 179 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 73 thousand tonnes, Apatite & Phosphorite 54 thousand tonnes, Limestone 274 lakh tonnes, Magnesite 23 thousand  tonnes  and Diamond  2932 carat.   

 The production of important minerals showing  positive growth during June 2016 over June 2015 include ‘Iron ore’ (42.6%), ‘Bauxite’ (35.5%), ‘Chromite’ (34.9%), ‘Gold’ (14.0%), ‘Coal’ (11.4%), ‘Diamond’ (9.5%), ‘Limestone’ (7.6%)  and ‘Magnesite’ (0.7%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: ‘Apatite & Phosphorite’ [(-) 80.7%], ‘Zinc conc.’ [(-) 44.2%], ‘Lead conc. [(-) 17.8%], ‘Petroleum (crude)’ [(-) 4.3%], ‘Natural gas (utilized)’ [(-) 3.9%], ‘Lignite’ [(-) 3.6%],  ‘Manganese ore’ [(-) 3.0%] and ‘Copper conc.’ [(-) 2.7%].