NAICS 212322

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System is the federal standard for grouping establishments to compile and publish statistics on the U.S. economy. Developed by OMB’s Economic Classification Policy Committee with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 and is updated every five years, with the current vintage set in 2022. ¹
NAICS 212322 covers establishments that operate industrial-grade sand pits, dredge for industrial sand, and wash, screen, or otherwise prepare industrial sand. Federal statistical programs use this code to classify and tabulate activity within the mining subsector for nonmetallic minerals. ²

See also on G2X:

• NAICS 212322 — G2X overview
• NAICS 212321 — Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
• NAICS 213115 — Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels)

What this NAICS covers

• Operation of industrial-grade sand pits. ²
• Dredging operations for industrial-grade sand. ²
• Washing, screening, and similar preparation of industrial sand. ²
• Beneficiation and preparation conducted at industrial sand plants. ²
• Mine site development associated with industrial sand extraction. ²
• Integrated mining and on-site preparation where industrial sand is the primary output. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	212321	Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
NAICS	213115	Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels)
PSC	9620	Minerals, Natural and Synthetic
PSC	9610	Ores

Cross‑references and exclusions

• Construction-grade sand and gravel are classified under NAICS 212321, not NAICS 212322. ²
• Contract support services for nonmetallic mineral mining (e.g., exploration, sampling) fall under NAICS 213115. ³
• Nonmetallic mineral mining that is not sand, gravel, clay, ceramic, or refractory minerals may fall under NAICS 212399. ²

Where it appears in federal data

• Economic Census publishes detailed industry statistics for Sector 21, including NAICS 212322. ⁴
• County Business Patterns and related series use NAICS to tabulate establishment counts, employment, and payroll by industry. ⁵
• Nonemployer Statistics provide NAICS-based counts and receipts for firms without paid employees. ⁶

Frequently asked questions

• What activities qualify under NAICS 212322?
  Establishments primarily operating industrial-grade sand pits, dredging for industrial sand, or washing, screening, and otherwise preparing industrial sand are included. These activities may occur at mines or preparation plants where industrial sand is the primary output. ²

• How is NAICS 212322 different from NAICS 212321?
  The distinction is product grade: NAICS 212322 covers industrial-grade sand, while NAICS 212321 covers construction-grade sand and gravel. Each code is assigned based on the material produced and prepared. ²

• Are contract exploration and sampling for industrial sand part of NAICS 212322?
  No. Contract exploration, sampling, and similar support services for nonmetallic minerals are classified in NAICS 213115, not in the mining industry codes. ³

• Did NAICS 212322 change between 2017 and 2022?
  The Census Bureau provides consolidated change lists for 2017–2022; specific alterations to NAICS 212322 are not itemized on the overview implementation page. Not specified by official sources ⁷.

• Which federal programs commonly report data for NAICS 212322?
  The Economic Census, County Business Patterns, and Nonemployer Statistics publish industry-level measures (e.g., establishments, employment, payroll, and receipts) using NAICS codes, including NAICS 212322. ⁴

Useful resources

• NAICS 212322 — G2X overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 212322 industry description. ²
• Census — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline, adoption, and change files). ⁷
• Economic Census by Industry — Sector 21 tables and downloads. ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — About Industry: NAICS development and 2022 update timeline. https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — Sector 21 archive page with definitions for 212321 and 212322. https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect21.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 213115 definition (Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect21.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census by Industry (2022; Sector 21). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/data/tables/industry.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — County Business Patterns industry reference files (NAICS descriptions). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cbp/technical-documentation/reference/naics-descriptions.html
6. U.S. Census Bureau — Nonemployer Statistics industry reference files (NAICS descriptions). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/nonemployer-statistics/technical-documentation/reference/naics-descriptions.html
7. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (overview and change list links). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html