The value of country's mineral production grew by 7.3 per cent in March to Rs 20,475 crore over the same month last year.

India had produced minerals, excluding atomic and minor minerals, worth Rs 19,082 crore in March last year, according to an official statement issued today.

The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 7,766 crore. Crude petroleum was the second-largest contributor at Rs 5,888 crore, followed by iron ore (Rs 2,350 crore) and natural gas (Rs 1,992 crore).

Lignite contributed Rs 595 crore to the total value of the mineral production and limestone Rs 391 crore. "These six minerals together contributed about 94 per cent of the total value of mineral production in March 2013," the statement said.

Production of coal stood at 650 lakh tonnes, just three lakh tonnes more than that in the same month last year. There was no change in the crude petroleum output at 32 lakh tonnes. Bauxite production stood at 1.67 lakh tonnes. Iron ore production also fell to 113 lakh tonnes from 150 lakh tonnes a year ago.

Among the precious metals, gold production declined to 135 kg from 175 kg. However, production of diamond increased to 4,408 carat over 1,581 carat in March 2012.