Mineral production during December 2008

 
The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in December 2008 was higher by 6.4% compared to that of the preceding month. The mineral sector has also shown a positive growth of 3.03% during the current financial year i.e. April-December 2008-09 as compared to that of the previous year. The mineral production in December 2008 was higher by 1.03% as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year. 

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during December 2008 was Rs.8849 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs.3763 crore (43%). Next in the order of importance were: iron ore Rs.1754 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs.1601 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs.834 crore, limestone Rs.203 crore and lignite Rs.179 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94% of the total value of mineral production in December 2008. 

Production level of important minerals in December 2008 were: coal 478 lakh tonnes, lignite 22 lakhs tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 2698 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 29 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1295 thousand tonnes, chromite 298 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 13 thousand tonnes, gold 177 kg., iron ore 181 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 11 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 197 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 107 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 139 thousand tonnes, dolomite 307 thousand tonnes, limestone 175 lakh tonnes and magnesite 23 thousand tonnes. 

In December 2008 the output of chromite increased 52.33%, apatite & phosphorite 26.34%, manganese ore 23.82%, iron ore 18.31%, lignite 14.05%, bauxite 8.99%, coal 8.90%, magnesite 7.05%, dolomite 4.95%, limestone 3.31%, zinc conc. 2.87%, natural gas (utilized) 2.08% and petroleum (crude) 1.30 per cent. The production of copper conc. remains at the level of previous month. However the production of gold decreased 2.75% and lead conc. 10.01 percent.