Rising investment in the mining and quarrying sector helped boost yields of a number of key minerals during 2011, statistics released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry have revealed.

Of a dozen key types of commodities that are currently the focus of investment in this rapidly expanding sector, all but two registered healthy output growth during the year when compared with production levels of a year ago.

For the first time, two new minerals — magnesium ore and kaolinite — were added to the list of key industrial minerals currently being commercially produced in the Sultanate. Around 41,300 metric tonnes of magnesium ore were produced last year, while mining operations targeting kaolinite deposits — a mineral used in paper production, ceramics, paint manufacturing and toothpaste — yielded 142,600 metric tonnes of the commodity.

Aggregates — a key raw material for the construction industry — accounted for the lion’s share of mineral output during 2011. Around 69.391 million tonnes of aggregates were produced last year, which was 1.8 per cent lower than the previous year’s tally of 70.685 million tonnes.

Gypsum production surged 92 per cent to 1.254 million tonnes last year, from 653,200 tonnes a year earlier. Also in this category of minerals registering prolific growth was laterite, production of which jumped 92.4 per cent to 721,600 tonnes last year, from 375,000 tonnes in 2010.

A spurt in marble quarrying activities boosted output to 931,400 metric tonnes last year, representing a hefty 34 per cent increase over the previous year’s output of 695,100 metric tonnes.

Exports of limestone, a key raw material in steel production, climbed 7.7 per cent to nearly 5 million tonnes last year, from 4.638 million tonnes in 2010. Production of copper ore also jumped 28 per cent to 111,400 tonnes last year, from 87,000 tonnes a year earlier. Output is projected to rise sharply as a number of mining firms ramp up exploration and development activities.

On the other hand, output of chromite ore, which is a key source of chrome for the auto industry, slumped 28.7 per cent to 616,700 tonnes last year, from 865,400 tonnes in 2010.
Modest increases in the production of quartz, silica sand, clay and industrial salt were also reported last year.

Around 34 companies were engaged in the exploration and development of Oman’s natural mineral resources last year, it is learnt. The number does include the scores of companies that operate quarries and crushers catering primarily to the construction industry.