Index of mineral production increases by 5.2% in December

The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for December 2016, increased by 5.2 per cent while the total value of the mineral output during the month was estimated at Rs 22,348 crore.
"The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of December 2016 at 144.5, was 5.2% higher as compared to December 2015," the mines ministry said in a statement.
"The cumulative growth for the period April-December 2016-17 over the corresponding period of previous year has been (+) 0.9 per cent," it said.
The total value of mineral production -- excluding atomic and minor minerals -- in the country during December 2016 was Rs 22,348 crore, it added.

The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 9,317 crore (42 per cent), followed by petroleum (crude) Rs 5,553 crore, iron ore Rs 2,438 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs 2,195 crore, lignite Rs 804 crore and limestone Rs 528 crore.
Together they contributed about 93 per cent of the total value of mineral production in December 2016.