NAICS 2022 · in 2123
21232
Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying
Analysis
NAICS 21232 is the 2022 NAICS industry for sand, gravel, clay, and ceramic and refractory minerals mining and quarrying, part of 2123 (Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying). Census lists 64 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 15% and employment rose 13%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 2,617 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 36,740 people at an average annual payroll of $80,554 per employee (69th percentile of national industries). 38% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 3 codes at this level within Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying, with 49.4% of them.
Census lists 6 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 32732, 32799, 32712 and 32711. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Across its national industries Census lists 64 index entries; typical ones are common sand quarrying and/or beneficiating, abrasive sand quarrying and/or beneficiating and andalusite mining and/or beneficiating.
Official definition
This industry comprises (1) establishments primarily engaged in developing the mine site and/or mining, quarrying, dredging for sand and gravel, or mining clay (e.g., china clay, paper clay and slip clay) or ceramic and refractory minerals and (2) preparation plants primarily engaged in beneficiating (e.g., washing, screening, and grinding) sand and gravel, clay, and ceramic and refractory minerals.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing ready-mix concrete | 32732 Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
| Calcining, dead burning, or otherwise processing (i.e., beyond basic preparation) clay or ceramic and refractory minerals | 32799 All Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing |
| Shaping, molding, baking, burning, or hardening nonclay ceramics, clay and nonclay refractories, and structural clay products | 32712 Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing |
| Shaping, molding, glazing, and firing pottery, ceramics, and plumbing fixtures | 32711 Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
| Oil shale mining and/or beneficiating | 21112 Crude Petroleum Extraction |
| Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage) | 23799 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction |
Index entries (64)
- Common sand quarrying and/or beneficiating
- Abrasive sand quarrying and/or beneficiating
- Andalusite mining and/or beneficiating