Mineral Production during May 2015 (Provisional) The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of May (new Series 2004-05=100) 2015 at 128.8, was 2.8% higher as compared to May 2014.The cumulative growth for the period April- May 2015-16 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 1.5%. The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during May 2015 was Rs. 19716 crore. The contribution of: coal was the highest at Rs. 7244 crore (37%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 5787 crore, iron ore Rs. 2329 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2277 crore, lignite Rs. 461 crore and limestone Rs. 493 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 94% of the total value of mineral production in May 2015. Production level of important minerals in May 2015 were: coal 491 lakh tonnes, lignite 36 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2753 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 32 lakh tonnes, bauxite 4438 thousand tonnes, chromite 263 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 10 thousand tonnes, gold 101 kg., iron ore 130 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 20 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 189 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 125 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 269 thousand tonnes, limestone 265 lakh tonnes, magnesite 15 thousand tonnes and diamond 3182 carat. The production of important minerals showing positive growth during May 2015 over May 2014 include 'lead conc.' (54.1%), 'bauxite' (46.2%), 'zinc conc.' (39.9%), 'apatite & phosphorite' (28.8%), 'copper conc.' (20.3%), 'coal' (7.8%), 'iron ore' and 'limestone' (3.7%) each and 'petroleum (crude)' (0.8%). The production of other important minerals showing negative growth are: 'chromite' [(-) 0.8%], 'natural gas (utilized)' [(-) 4.0%], 'gold' [(-) 15.1%], 'manganese ore' [(-) 16.2%], 'lignite' [(-) 24.5%], 'diamond' [(-) 34.1%] and 'magnesite' [(-) 35.5%].
