The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during December, 2001 was Rs.4762 crore as compared to Rs. 4667 crore in November, 2001. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 1905 crore (40%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 1548 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs. 706 crore, iron ore Rs. 192 crore, limestone Rs. 105 crore and lignite Rs. 88 crore. These six minerals together contributed 95% of the total value of mineral production in December, 2001.

    Production levels of important minerals in December, 2001 were: coal 295 lakh tonnes, lignite 19 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 2423 million cu.m., petroleum (crude) 28 lakh tonnes, bauxite 759 thousand tonnes, chromite 176 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 13 thousand tonnes, gold 956 kg., iron ore 74 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 4 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 121 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 36 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 90 thousand tonnes, dolomite 254 thousand tonnes, limestone 98 lakh tonnes and magnesite 26 thousand tonnes.

    During December, 2001 the output of magnesite increased by 16%, chromite 12%, apatite & phosphorite 9%, bauxite 6%, iron ore 5%, natural gas (utilised) 3%, coal and petroleum (crude) 2% each. However, the output of lead conc. decreased by 14%, gold and zinc conc. 11% each, copper conc. 9%, limestone 7%, manganese ore and dolomite 2% each. The output of lignite remained almost same at the level of previous month.