India's Nov mineral output up 3.7 %, valued at Rs 17,000 cr

New Delhi: The country’s mineral production saw a 3.7 percent jump in November last year over the preceding month on the back of higher coal, chromite, bauxite and iron ore output, with total value of the products recorded at Rs 17,163 crore. “The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector in November 2013 was higher by 3.7 percent compared to that of the preceding month. “The mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 1 percent during November 2013 as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year,” an official statement said. [caption id=“attachment_274026” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during November 2013 was Rs 17,163 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 5,798 crore (34 percent). The statement said next in the order of importance were - petroleum (crude) at Rs 5,728 crore, iron ore at Rs 2,276 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs 1,797 crore, limestone at Rs 364 crore and lignite at Rs 365 crore. “These six minerals together contributed about 95 percent of the total value of mineral production in November 2013,” the statement said. Production level of important minerals in November included coal output at 473 lakh tonnes, lignite at 29 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) at 2807 million cu. m. and petroleum (crude) at 31 lakh tonnes. As far as gold is concerned, the output of the yellow metal in the country was recorded at 86 kg while diamond production stood at 2,180 carats. In November 2013, the output of chromite increased by 57 percent, bauxite (18.3 percent), coal (11.1 percent) and iron ore (9.8 percent). PTI