India mines minerals worth Rs 17,339 cr in July

The total value of India's mineral production, which excludes atomic as well as minor, was Rs 17,339 crore in July.

Of this, the contribution from coal was the highest with 36 per cent share at Rs 6,238 crore, the Mines Ministry said.

That was followed by petroleum (crude) at Rs 5,593 crore, natural gas (utilised) at Rs 2,165 crore, iron ore at Rs 1,347 crore, limestone at Rs 554 crore and lignite at Rs 535 crore, it added.

"These six minerals together contributed about 95 per cent of the total value of mineral production in July 2016," the ministry said.

The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for July 2016 (based on the new Series 2004-05 =100) stood at 118.7, which was 0.8 per cent higher as compared to July 2015.

The country produced 442 lakh tonnes of coal, 30 lakh tonnes of lignite,  2,618 million cu m of natural gas (utilised),  31 lakh tonnes of petroleum (crude), 1,972 thousand tonnes of bauxite, 177 thousand tonnes of chromite, 11 thousand tonnes of copper, 172 kg of gold and 115 lakh tonnes of iron ore.

Lead production stood at 22,000 tonnes, while that of manganese ore was 150,000 tonnes, zinc was 89,000 tonnes, limestone was 253 lakh tonnes, and that of diamond was 3,100 carat.