Mineral Production during October 2015 (Provisional) The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of October (new Series 2004-05=100) 2015 at 130.0, was 4.7% higher as compared to October 2014.The cumulative growth for the period April-October 2015-16 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 2.0%. The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during October 2015 was Rs. 19159 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 7504 crore (39%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 5727 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2233 crore, iron ore Rs. 1882 crore, lignite Rs. 504 crore and limestone Rs. 478 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in October 2015. Production level of important minerals in October 2015 were: coal 529 lakh tonnes, lignite 37 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2700 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 32 lakh tonnes, bauxite 2386 thousand tonnes, chromite 194 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 11 thousand tonnes, gold 93 kg., iron ore 129 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 24 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 140 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 132 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 179 thousand tonnes, limestone 241 lakh tonnes, magnesite 23 thousand tonnes and diamond 1748 carat. The production of important minerals showing positive growth during October 2015 over October 2014 include chromite (69.9%), bauxite (52.9%), lead conc. (48.8%), iron ore (48.2%), copper conc. (35.6%), apatite & phosphorite (26.5%), lignite (24.8%), diamond (13.7%), coal (6.4%), magnesite (3.8%) and gold (0.0%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: natural gas (utilized) [(-) 1.5%], petroleum (crude) [(-) 2.1%], zinc conc. [(-) 2.3%], limestone [(-) 3.8%], and manganese ore [(-) 16.2%].
