The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector in August 2012 was lower by 3.9% compared to that of the preceding month. The mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 2.0% during August 2012 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 August 2012 was Rs. 15675 crore. The contribution of petroleum (crude) was the highest at Rs. 5894 crore (38%). Next in the order of importance were: coal Rs. 4110 crore, iron ore Rs. 2776 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1303 crore, lignite Rs. 383 crore and limestone Rs. 342 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94% of the total value of mineral production in August 2012.
Production level of important minerals in August 2012 were: coal 362 lakh tonnes, lignite 34 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 3483 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 32 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1384 thousand tonnes, chromite 274 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold 123 kg., iron ore 126 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 12 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 168 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 105 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 203 thousand tonnes, dolomite 476 thousand tonnes, limestone 229 lakh tonnes, magnesite 16 thousand tonnes and diamond 2861 carat.
In August 2012 the output of bauxite increased by 16.3%, dolomite 15.3%, apatite & phosphorite 14.0%, manganese ore 6.1%, limestone 0.4 percent. However the production of petroleum (crude) decreased by 0.9%, natural gas (utilized) 1.0%, lignite 3.5%, copper conc. 3.5%, zinc conc. 3.6%, iron ore 7.7%, coal 8.5%, magnesite 10.9%, gold 11.5%, diamond 14.2%, chromite 15.1% and lead conc. 16.6 percent.