NAICS 212323

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 adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification system, NAICS was jointly designed by the U.S. Economic Classification Policy Committee, Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s statistical agency; the system is revised on a regular cycle. ³

Within the current 2022 NAICS structure, an official stand-alone definition for NAICS 212323 is not published by the U.S. Census Bureau. Instead, kaolin and ball clay activities are defined under NAICS 212324, and other clay, ceramic, and refractory minerals mining is defined under NAICS 212325. Accordingly, the exact scope of NAICS 212323 is not identified in official materials. Not specified by official sources. ¹

What this NAICS covers

• Site development and mining of kaolin and ball clay, including basic beneficiating such as washing, screening, and grinding. ¹
• Mining and beneficiating of bentonite, fuller’s earth, and common clay (except kaolin and ball clay). ¹
• Extraction and preparation of ceramic and refractory minerals such as feldspar and nepheline syenite. ¹
• Mining of fire clay and shale (except oil shale) and basic preparation for further processing. ¹
• Beneficiation activities associated with clay, ceramic, and refractory minerals performed at the mine or preparation plant (mechanical preparation only). ¹
• Establishments primarily focused on kaolin/ball clay mining operations as defined in NAICS 212324. ¹
• Establishments primarily focused on non‑kaolin clay, ceramic, and refractory minerals as defined in NAICS 212325. ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Scope notes and official exclusions

• Shaping, molding, glazing, and firing of pottery, ceramics, and plumbing fixtures are classified in NAICS 327110, not in mining industries. ¹
• Clay building materials and refractories manufacturing are classified in NAICS 327120. ¹
• Calcining, dead‑burning, or other processing beyond basic beneficiation of clay or refractory minerals is classified in NAICS 327992. ⁴

2022 NAICS context

NAICS is reviewed every five years, and federal economic statistics are transitioning to the 2022 vintage on a program‑by‑program schedule. For mineral mining activities, official 2022 NAICS materials continue to enumerate NAICS 212324 and 212325 as the relevant detailed industries; no separate NAICS 212323 entry is provided. ²

Frequently asked questions

• Is NAICS 212323 recognized in the 2022 NAICS?
  The Census NAICS listings for 2022 do not include a distinct NAICS 212323 entry. Activities are covered under NAICS 212324 (kaolin and ball clay) and NAICS 212325 (other clay, ceramic, and refractory minerals). ¹

• Which NAICS applies to kaolin and ball clay mining?
  Use NAICS 212324 for establishments primarily engaged in developing mine sites, mining kaolin or ball clay, and performing on‑site beneficiation of those materials. ¹

• What NAICS covers mining of bentonite, fuller’s earth, or feldspar?
  Use NAICS 212325 for clay (except kaolin and ball), ceramic, and refractory minerals such as bentonite, fuller’s earth, feldspar, fire clay, and nepheline syenite, including basic beneficiation. ¹

• When does processing move an establishment out of mining NAICS codes?
  Calcining, dead‑burning, or other processing beyond basic beneficiation is classified in NAICS 327992, not in mining. Shaping and firing of refractories or structural clay products fall in NAICS 327120. ⁴

• Are there official PSC mappings for NAICS 212323?
  Not specified by official sources. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 212323 overview
• Census NAICS: Sector 21, Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (definitions for NAICS 212324 and 212325). ¹
• The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (overview and timeline). ²
• 2017 NAICS Manual (official background and system overview). ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 21: Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (includes 212324 and 212325 definitions): https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect21.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS: https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Manual: https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2017/econ/2017-naics-manual.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 31–33: Manufacturing (includes 327120 and 327992 definitions): https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.html