2022 NAICS national industry in sector 21 Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

212230 Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining

NAICS 212230 is the US industry code for copper, nickel, lead, and zinc mining. It covers establishments primarily engaged in developing the mine site, mining, and/or beneficiating (i.e., preparing) ores valued chiefly for their copper, nickel, lead, or zinc content.

Code
212230 (2022 NAICS)
Title
Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining
Part of
Metal Ore Mining
SBA small business limit
Up to 1,400 employees
Closest UK SIC
07290 (details)

Changes coming. The NAICS 2027 revision applies to data from 1 January 2027, and SBA proposed new size standards on 20 August 2026. The values on this page are the ones in force today; we update this page when the official files change.

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in developing the mine site, mining, and/or beneficiating (i.e., preparing) ores valued chiefly for their copper, nickel, lead, or zinc content. Beneficiating includes the transformation of ores into concentrates. Establishments primarily engaged in recovering copper concentrates by the precipitation, leaching, or electrowinning of copper ore are included in this industry.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 212230

The Census index assigns these 26 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 212230

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 212230, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed 1,400 employees. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 0729), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

Data last changed November 14, 2026. How this page is built.