The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of March 2015 at 148.5, was 0.9% higher as compared to March 2014..The cumulative growth for the period April- March 2014-15 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at (+) 1.4%.
The total value of mineral prduction (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during March 2015 was Rs 223.52 billion. The contribution of: coal was the highest at Rs 93.77 billion (42%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs 58.65 billion, iron ore Rs 25.35 billion, natural gas (utilized) Rs 22.55 billion, lignite Rs 7.75 billion and limestone Rs 4.68 billion. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in March 2015.
Production level of important minerals in March 2015 were: coal 688 lakh tonnes, lignite 62 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 2727 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 32 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1585 thousand tonnes, chromite 365 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 8 thousand tonnes, gold 124 kg., iron ore 122 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 23 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 195 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 168 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 163 thousand tonnes, limestone 260 lakh tonnes, magnesite 22 thousand tonnes and diamond 3590 carat.