NAICS 212323 - Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining
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What is NAICS 212323
NAICS code 212323 covers establishments engaged primarily in the extraction and beneficiation of kaolin, clay, and ceramic and refractory minerals. This sector includes operations that develop mine sites and mine various types of clays such as china clay, paper clay, and slip clay, as well as ceramic and refractory minerals essential for industrial applications. Businesses in this industry are involved in both mining raw materials and processing them to improve quality and usability for various manufacturing processes. Government agencies contract with these businesses for materials critical in construction, manufacturing, and scientific research, where high-quality minerals are required for durability and performance.
Industry Classification for NAICS 212323
This U.S. industry comprises (1) establishments primarily engaged in developing the mine site and/or mining clay (e.g., china clay, paper clay and slip clay) or ceramic and refractory minerals and (2) establishments primarily engaged in beneficiating (i.e., preparing) clay or ceramic and refractory minerals.
Illustrative Examples:
- Bentonite mining and/or beneficiating
- Fuller's earth mining and/or beneficiating
- Common clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Kaolin mining and/or beneficiating
- Feldspar mining and/or beneficiating
- Ball clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Fire clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Shale (except oil shale) mining and/or beneficiating
Breakdown for NAICS 212323
- Focuses on mining and beneficiation of kaolin, clay, and refractory minerals.
- Includes development and preparation of mine sites and raw materials.
- Encompasses diverse clay types such as bentonite, ball clay, and fire clay.
- Supports industries requiring heat-resistant and insulating mineral products.
- Subject to environmental and operational regulations in mining activities.
- Small to medium-sized businesses dominate, with specific size standards.
Included Activities for NAICS 212323
- Mining of kaolin and other clay minerals from surface and underground sites.
- Beneficiating clay and ceramic minerals to enhance purity and usability.
- Developing and maintaining mine sites to support extraction operations.
- Processing fired clay and refractory minerals for industrial applications.
- Sampling and testing mineral content for quality assurance.
- Transporting raw and processed minerals to manufacturing or distribution centers.
- Complying with environmental standards during mining and beneficiation.
- Providing technical support for mineral extraction and processing.
Business Types for NAICS 212323
- Mining companies specializing in clay and ceramic minerals.
- Beneficiation and mineral processing firms.
- Contract mining operators and site developers.
- Industrial mineral suppliers and distributors.
- Environmental consulting firms focused on mining compliance.
- Small and medium enterprises serving niche mineral markets.
Subcategories for NAICS 212323
- Andalusite mining and/or beneficiating
- Aplite mining and/or beneficiating
- Ball clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Bentonite mining and/or beneficiating
- Bleaching clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Brucite mining and/or beneficiating
- Burley mining and/or beneficiating
- China clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Clay bleaching
- Clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Clay, ball, mining and/or beneficiating
- Clay, ceramic and refractory minerals, mining and/or beneficiating
- Clay, fire, mining and/or beneficiating
- Clay, natural, mining and/or beneficiating
- Common clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Common shale mining and/or beneficiating
- Cornwall stone mining and/or beneficiating
- Cyanite mining and/or beneficiating
- Diaspore mining and/or beneficiating
- Dumortierite mining and/or beneficiating
- Earth, fuller's (e.g., all natural bleaching clays), mining and/or beneficiating
- Feldspar mining and/or beneficiating
- Fire clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Flint clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Fuller's earth mining and/or beneficiating
- Kaolin mining and/or beneficiating
- Kyanite mining and/or beneficiating
- Laterite mining and/or beneficiating
- Magnesite mining and/or beneficiating
- Nepheline syenite mining and/or beneficiating
- Olivine, non-gem, mining and/or beneficiating
- Paper clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Pegmatite, feldspar, mining and/or beneficiating
- Pinite mining and/or beneficiating
- Plastic fire clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Refractory minerals mining and/or beneficiating
- Rubber clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Shale (except oil shale) mining and/or beneficiating
- Sillimanite mining and/or beneficiating
- Slip clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Stoneware clay mining and/or beneficiating
- Syenite, nepheline, mining and/or beneficiating
- Topaz, non-gem, mining and/or beneficiating
Government Buyers for NAICS 212323
Government agencies such as the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and federal construction authorities typically purchase kaolin, clay, and ceramic minerals for use in infrastructure projects, military equipment, and energy production applications. These minerals are vital in creating heat-resistant materials, insulating components, and other durable goods needed in defense systems and public works. Agencies rely on stable and quality sources of these minerals to ensure the longevity and safety of government-funded projects and technologies.
Contract Types & Procurement for NAICS 212323
Contracts in this sector often include fixed-price agreements for supply of mined and beneficiated minerals, as well as indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts for ongoing material needs. Procurement methods range from competitive bidding to negotiated contracts depending on the project scale and urgency. Typical contract values vary widely, from smaller supply contracts valued in the tens of thousands to multi-million-dollar agreements supporting large infrastructure or defense initiatives, reflecting the volume and quality specifications required.
Details for NAICS 212323
Explore the hierarchy and related codes for this industry
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