New Delhi; The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of April (new Series 2004-05=100) 2016 at 123.6, was 1.4% higher as compared to April 2015.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during April2016 was Rs. 18186 crore. The contribution of Coal was the highest at Rs. 7232 crore (40%). Next in the order of importance were: Petroleum (crude) Rs. 5375 crore, Iron ore Rs. 2031 crore, Natural gas (utilized) Rs. 1982 crore, Limestone Rs. 559 crore and Lignite Rs.220 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in April 2016.

Production level of important minerals in April 2016 were: Coal 486 lakh tonnes, Lignite 20 lakh tonnes, Natural gas (utilized) 2397  million cu. m., Petroleum (crude) 30 lakh tonnes, Bauxite 2305 thousand tonnes, Chromite 252 thousand tonnes, Copper conc. 12 thousand tonnes, Gold 112 kg., Iron ore 170 lakh tonnes, Lead conc. 16 thousand tonnes, Manganese ore 194 thousand tonnes, Zinc conc. 56 thousand tonnes, Apatite & Phosphorite 81 thousand tonnes, Limestone 275 lakh tonnes, Magnesite 24 thousand  tonnes  and Diamond  1717 carat.

The production of important minerals showing  positive growth during April 2016 over April 2015 include ‘Chromite’ (84.2%), ‘Magnesite’ (76.5%), ‘Iron ore’ (54.5%),  ‘Copper conc.’ (22.6%), ‘Gold’ (16.7%), ‘Manganese ore’ (13.4%), ‘Apatite & Phosphorite’ (12.1%), ‘Bauxite’ (9.4%) and ‘Limestone’ (8.1%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: ‘Zinc conc.’ [(-) 55.0%], ‘Diamond’ [(-) 48.5%], ‘Lignite’ [(-) 32.0%], ‘Lead conc. [(-) 23.8%], ‘Natural gas (utilized)’ [(-) 6.9%], ‘Petroleum (crude)’ [(-) 2.2%] and ‘Coal’ [(-) 0.7%].