MINING production fell 1,0% in 1998 compared to the previous year, Statistics South Africa said on Thursday. However, mining production for the fourth quarter of 1998 reflected an increase of 5,7% after seasonal adjustment compared with the third quarter of 1998. This increase was mainly due to the contribution of platinum mines. The value of mineral sales for the first eleven months of 1998 increased by 6,2% compared with the first eleven months of 1997. The annual decrease of 1,0% in total mining production for 1998 was due to a decrease of 1,8 percentage points in gold production. However, during 1998 platinum production increased by 0,4 of a percentage point.