Mineral production from mining increases by 6.40 percent

New Delhi, Mar 17 (ANI): Union Mines Ministry on Wednesday day said that the mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in December 2009 was higher by 6.40 percent compared to that of the preceding month.

However, the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 8.51 percent during the current financial year i.e. April- December 2009-10 as compared to that of the previous year.

The mineral production in December 2009 was higher by 9.57 percent as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.

In a statement, the Ministry said that the total value of mineral production excluding atomic and minor minerals in the country during December 2009 was Rs. 9713 crore.

The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 3864 crore (40 percent), the statement said.

Iron ore contributed Rs. 1806 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs. 1618 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1350 crore, lignite Rs. 239 crore and limestone Rs. 223 crore, statement added.

These six minerals together contributed about 94 percent of the total value of mineral production in December 2009.

Production level of important minerals in December 2009 were: coal 489 lakh tonnes, lignite 29 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 4325 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 29 lakh tonnes, auxite 1190 thousand tonnes, chromite 332 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 9 thousand tonnes, gold 163 kilograms, iron ore 177 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 12 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 202 housand tonnes, zinc conc. 113 thousand tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 77 thousand tonnes, dolomite 429 thousand tonnes, limestone 179 lakh tones, magnesite 24 thousand tones and diamond 1883 carats. (ANI)