New Delhi, March 30 (IANS) Mining sector output grew 3.03 percent in the first nine months this fiscal as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal, while it was 6.4 percent more in December than that in the corresponding month the year before, fresh statistics revealed Monday.
However, production of gold decreased 2.75 percent in December, in comparison to the same month in 2007-08, while copper maintained comparable levels.

According to data released by the Ministry of Mines, the total mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in December 2008 was valued at Rs.8,849 crore (Rs.88.49 billion).

Of this, coal contributed 43 percent of the total production of minerals, contributing Rs.3,763 crore (Rs.37.63 billion) to the exchequer.

This was followed by iron ore, which was valued at Rs.1,754 crore (Rs.17.54 billion), crude oil (Rs.1,601 crore/Rs.16.01 billion) and natural gas (Rs.834 crore/Rs.8.34 billion).

Limestone and lignite production was valued at Rs.203 crore (Rs.2.03 billion) and Rs.179 crore (Rs.1.79 billion) during the period.

Overall, these six minerals together contributed about 94 percent of the total value of mineral production in December, the government said in a statement.