21232 Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying

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, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

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

• Manufacturing ready-mix concrete are classified in Industry 32732, Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing.
• Calcining, dead burning, or otherwise processing (i.e., beyond basic preparation) clay or ceramic and refractory minerals are classified in Industry 32799, All Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing.
• Shaping, molding, baking, burning, or hardening nonclay ceramics, clay and nonclay refractories, and structural clay products are classified in Industry 32712, Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing.
• Shaping, molding, glazing, and firing pottery, ceramics, and plumbing fixtures are classified in Industry 32711, Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing.
• Oil shale mining and/or beneficiating are classified in Industry 21112, Crude Petroleum Extraction.
• Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage) are classified in Industry 23799, Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction.

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

Codes in 21232

• 212321Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
• 212322Industrial Sand Mining
• 212323Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining