Mineral production in India fell 5.64 per cent in September

Mineral production in the country grew at a negative (-) 5.64 per cent during September 2011, year-on-year. The index of mineral production (mining and quarrying) in September 2011 was down 4.86 per cent from that of the preceding month, official figures showed.

Total value of minerals produced (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during September 2011 was Rs13,658 crore, according to provisional estimates.

The share of petroleum (crude) was the highest at Rs5,626 crore (41 per cent), followed by coal (Rs2,800 crore), iron ore (Rs2,490 crore), natural gas (Rs1,452 crore), lignite (Rs311 crore) and limestone (Rs267 crore).

These six minerals together contributed about 95 per cent of the total value of mineral production in September 2011.

Production level of important minerals in September 2011 were: coal - 299 lakh tonnes, lignite - 26 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) - 3879 million cu m, petroleum (crude) – 3.1 million tonnes, bauxite 9.95 lakh tonnes, chromite 2.58 million tonnes, copper conc – 11,000 tonnes, gold - 172 kg, iron ore – 12.6 million tonnes, lead (conc) – 13,000 tonnes, manganese ore – 1.96 million tonnes, zinc (conc) –1.14 million tonnes, apatite and phosphorite – 1.85 million tonnes, dolomite 4.12 million tonnes, limestone 18.8 million tonnes, magnesite 18,000 tonnes and diamond – 2,061 carat.

In September 2011 the output of apatite and phosphorite increased by 28.44 per cent and 19.27 per cent, respectively while production of manganese ore increased by 16.82 per cent, bauxite production by 8.88 per cent, chromite production by 8.05 per cent, copper (conc) production by 5.34 per cent and magnesite production by 5.16 per cent. However, the production of lignite decreased by 2.61 per cent, natural gas (utilised) by 2.85 per cent, dolomite production by 3.13 per cent, limestone production by 3.27 per cent, petroleum (crude) production by 4 per cent, coal production by 8.59 per cent, iron ore production by 8.77 per cent, gold production by 8.99 per cent, lead (conc) production by 9.36 per cent and zinc (conc) production by 9.36 per cent.