Mining output drops 3.4% in Oct.

Mexico's mining-metallurgic output fell 3.4% in October 2004 compared to the same month last year due to a drop in gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc production, the country's national statistics bureau Inegi reported. Mining-metallurgic output fell 0.53% compared to September 2004, although production increased 7.1% during the first 10 months of 2004 compared to the same period of 2003. Gold production in October was off 13.8% at 1,994kg (64,116oz) compared to the same month in 2003, while silver production fell 12.6% to 238,000kg (7.65Moz). Copper production declined 16% to 26,345t compared to October 2003, while lead fell 7.1% to 12,357t and zinc dropped 2.4% to 34,955t during the same period. However, production of coke grew 5%, iron ore production was up 9.2% and coal output increased 8.7%, while fluoride was up 10.2% and gypsum rose 23.2%.