NAICS 212390

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System organizes establishments by their primary production processes so federal agencies can collect, analyze, and publish statistics on the U.S. economy. NAICS was created by the OMB’s Economic Classification Policy Committee with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI, adopted in 1997, and is currently published in its 2022 vintage. ¹

NAICS 212390 covers “Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying.” Per Census, it comprises establishments primarily engaged in developing mine sites and mining, milling, or otherwise beneficiating nonmetallic minerals—excluding coal, stone, sand, gravel, clay, ceramic, and refractory minerals. In the United States, this 6-digit roll-up is subdivided into 212391, 212392, 212393, and 212399. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 212390 overview
• G2X — NAICS 212391 Potash, Soda, and Borate Mineral Mining
• G2X — NAICS 212399 All Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining

What this NAICS covers

• Extraction and preparation (crushing, grinding, washing) of chemical and fertilizer minerals such as barite, fluorspar, sulfur, and related materials under the “other chemical and fertilizer mineral” segment. ²
• Mining and/or beneficiating natural potassium, sodium, and boron compounds (e.g., potash, soda ash, borates). ²
• Phosphate rock mining, milling, drying, or otherwise preparing phosphate rock. ²
• Rock salt mining and brine operations associated with in-scope nonmetallic minerals. ²
• Peat mining and related preparation activities. ²
• Beneficiation and preparation plants primarily serving nonmetallic mineral mining (except fuels, stone, sand, gravel, clay, ceramic, refractory). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Scope boundaries and common misclassifications

• Dimension stone activities belong to 21231 Stone Mining and Quarrying, not 212390. ²
• Sand, gravel, clay, ceramic, and refractory minerals are classified in 21232, not 212390. ²
• Processing beyond basic preparation (e.g., calcining/dead-burning talc, mica, feldspar, barite, soapstone) is manufacturing under 32799. ²
• Manufacturing table salt falls under 31194; other non-table salt manufacturing is 32599; boron compounds and potassium salts manufacturing is 32518; phosphatic fertilizer manufacturing is 32531. ²
• Contract support services for nonmetallic mineral extraction are captured in 213115, not 212390. ²

Frequently asked questions

• How is NAICS 212390 structured in the United States?

  NAICS 212390 is a 6-digit roll-up for “Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying.” U.S. industries within it are 212391, 212392, 212393, and 212399. These define specific commodities such as potash/soda/borates, phosphate rock, chemical and fertilizer minerals, and all other nonmetallic minerals. ²

• Which activities are out of scope for 212390?

  Dimension stone is 21231; sand, gravel, clay, ceramic, and refractory minerals are 21232. Processing beyond beneficiation moves to 32799. Table salt is 31194, with other salt manufacturing in 32599; related chemical manufacturing appears in 32531 or 32518. ²

• Does NAICS 212390 include brine operations and peat?

  Yes. The 2123 subsector includes certain well and brine operations associated with nonmetallic minerals. Within 21239, examples include rock salt (including brine) and peat mining and/or beneficiating, provided activities remain within extraction and basic preparation. ²

• What is NAICS used for in federal contexts?

  NAICS structures industries for federal statistical programs, enabling consistent economic measurement across agencies. The Census Bureau is implementing the 2022 vintage across programs through 2027. NAICS is not a procurement code; agencies also use Product and Service Codes (PSCs) to categorize buys. ⁴

• Are NAICS updates relevant to 212390?

  Yes. NAICS is reviewed every five years. The 2022 vintage made sector-wide adjustments and is being adopted across Census economic programs. Bridging tools align 2017 and 2022 frameworks to preserve time-series continuity where applicable. ⁴

Useful resources

• Census: NAICS 2123/21239 definitions and industry breakdowns. ²
• Census: Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (what changed and timeline). ⁴
• Census: 2022 Economic Census — by Industry tables (Sector 21). ⁵

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses: NAICS adoption, ECPC, and trilateral development (OMB adoption in 1997). https://www.census.gov/about/history/historical-censuses-and-surveys/census-programs-surveys/economic/classifying-businesses.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 21 definitions, including 21239 and U.S. industries 212391/212392/212393/212399. https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect21.html
3. U.S. General Services Administration — Product and Service Code Manual (current manual and code set). https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual/all
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (overview, impacts, timeline). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Economic Census by Industry (access to Sector 21 tables). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/data/tables/industry.html