NAICS 212220

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support consistent collection, analysis, and publication of U.S. economic statistics. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. statistical programs currently use the 2022 NAICS vintage. ¹

NAICS 212220 (Gold Ore and Silver Ore Mining) covers establishments primarily engaged in developing mine sites, mining, and/or beneficiating ores valued chiefly for their gold or silver content. When performed in combination with mining, on-site operations that produce bullion or doré bars are included. Typical beneficiating activities at or associated with the mine include crushing, grinding, washing, concentrating, and leaching. ³

What this NAICS covers

• Mine site development for gold and silver ore projects. ³
• Underground and surface extraction of gold- and silver-bearing ores. ³
• Beneficiation at or associated with the mine (e.g., crushing, grinding, washing, concentrating, leaching). ³
• Operation of preparation mills serving mines, including custom mills, when focused on gold/silver ores. ³
• On-site production of bullion or doré bars when integrated with mining operations. ³
• Activities typical of “mining” in NAICS, including quarrying and ore preparation performed at the mine site. ³

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	212210	Iron Ore Mining
NAICS	212230	Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining
NAICS	213114	Support Activities for Metal Mining
PSC	9610	Ores

Code history (2017 → 2022)

Under NAICS 2017, gold and silver were separate national industries—212221 (Gold Ore Mining) and 212222 (Silver Ore Mining). NAICS 2022 consolidates these into 212220 Gold Ore and Silver Ore Mining. ²

Scope boundaries and cross-references

• Smelting/refining performed as separate manufacturing operations is classified in 33141 or 331419, not in 212220. ⁶
• Exploration and other fee-for-service support work belongs in 213114 Support Activities for Metal Mining. ⁵
• “Mining” in NAICS includes ore extraction and on-site beneficiating such as crushing, screening, washing, sizing, concentrating, calcining, and leaching. ³

Common PSC alignments in awards

• PSC 9610 (Ores) covers ore commodities. Usage frequency in awards: Not specified by official sources. ⁷
• PSC 9620 (Minerals, Natural and Synthetic) covers mineral commodities adjacent to ore extraction. Usage frequency in awards: Not specified by official sources. ⁸

Frequently asked questions

• What activities fall under NAICS 212220?

  Establishments develop mine sites; mine gold- or silver-bearing ores; and conduct on-site preparation such as crushing, grinding, washing, concentrating, and leaching. When combined with on-site mining, producing bullion or doré bars at the same establishment is included in this industry. ³

• Did NAICS change for gold and silver mining in 2022?

  Yes. NAICS 2017 codes 212221 (Gold) and 212222 (Silver) were consolidated into 212220 in NAICS 2022 to streamline reporting and improve comparability across programs and geographies. ²

• Are smelting and refining covered by 212220?

  No. Primary smelting and refining are manufacturing activities classified under 33141 or 331419. Only when bullion or doré production occurs as part of the same mining establishment does it fall within 212220. ⁶

• Where are drilling, sampling, and other support services for metal mining classified?

  Contract support services for metal mining—including exploration (except geophysical surveying), drilling, and other on-site services—are classified in 213114 Support Activities for Metal Mining, not in 212220. ⁵

• Where can official data for 212220 be found?

  The 2022 Economic Census publishes Mining (Sector 21) statistics on the 2022 NAICS basis. National and selected geographic tables, including outputs for gold and silver ore industries, are available via the Census data tables for Sector 21. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 212220
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS main page and 2022 NAICS Search. ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — Impact of Changes to NAICS (2017→2022). ²
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Economic Census: Sector 21 (Mining) data tables. ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS — 2022 NAICS Search and Introduction. https://www.census.gov/naics/?year=2022
2. U.S. Census Bureau, Impact of Changes to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/11/naics-changes.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS 212220 — Gold Ore and Silver Ore Mining (2022). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=212220&year=2022&details=212220
4. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS Sector 21 — Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (Economic Census tables). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-21.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS 213114 — Support Activities for Metal Mining (2022). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=213114&year=2022&details=213114
6. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS 33141 — Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (2022). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=33141&year=2022&details=33141
7. PSC Tool, PSC 9610 — Ores. https://psctool.us/psc/9610
8. PSC Tool, PSC 9620 — Minerals, Natural and Synthetic. https://psctool.us/psc/9620