The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of December was 3.2% lower as compared to December 2013. The cumulative growth for the period April - December 2014-15 over the corresponding period of previous year stands at 1.7%.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during December 2014 was Rs 196.84 billion. Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs 58.34 billion, iron ore Rs 23.97 billion, natural gas (utilized) Rs 23.02 billion, lignite Rs 4.73 billion and limestone Rs 4.22 billion. These six minerals together contributed about 96% of the total value of mineral production in December 2014.

Production level of important minerals in December 2014 were: coal 558 lakh tons, lignite 41 lakh tons, natural gas (utilized) 2783 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 32 lakh tons, bauxite 2345 thousand tons, chromite 160 thousand tons, copper conc. 7 thousand tons, gold 143 kg., iron ore 92 lakh tons, lead conc. 17 thousand tons, manganese ore 194 thousand tons, zinc conc. 143 thousand tons, apatite & phosphorite 100 thousand tons, dolomite 439 thousand tons, limestone 230 lakh tons, magnesite 24 thousand tons and diamond 2874 carat.