The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of July (new Series 2004-05=100) 2015 at 117.7, was 1.3% higher as compared to July 2014.The cumulative growth for the period April- July 2015-16 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 0.6%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during July 2015 was Rs. 17564 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 6045 crore (34%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 5696 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2070 crore, iron ore Rs. 1989 crore, limestone Rs. 498 crore and lignite Rs. 424. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in July 2015.

Production level of important minerals in July 2015 were: coal 423 lakh tonnes, lignite 31 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2503 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 31 lakh tonnes, bauxite 2521 thousand tonnes, chromite 162 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 11 thousand tonnes, gold 144 kg., iron ore 119 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 21 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 126 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 130 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 157 thousand tonnes, limestone 243 lakh tonnes, magnesite 19 thousand tonnes and diamond 3662 carat.

The production of important minerals showing positive growth during July 2015 over July 2014 include 'apatite & phosphorite' (88.0%), 'bauxite' (65.2%), 'chromite' (49.7%), 'gold' (28.6%), 'lead conc.' (28.5%), 'iron ore' (25.6%), 'copper conc.' (6.6%), 'zinc conc.' (5.8%), 'limestone' (3.1%), 'coal' (0.4%) and 'lignite' (0.2%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: 'petroleum (crude)' [(-) 0.4%], 'diamond' [(-) 2.7%], 'natural gas (utilized)' [(-) 5.5%], 'manganese ore' [(-) 23.1%] and 'magnesite' [(-) 37.9%].

• [Editor:Sophie]