NAICS 213114

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments so statistical agencies can collect, analyze, and publish economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget by the Economic Classification Policy Committee with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s national statistics institute, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 to enhance comparability across North America; the current vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 213114 (Support Activities for Metal Mining) covers establishments that, on a fee or contract basis, provide support services required for mining and quarrying of metallic minerals and extraction of metal ores. It includes mineral exploration by traditional prospecting methods (e.g., taking core samples, geological observations) but excludes geophysical surveying and mapping, which are classified in 541360. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 213114 overview: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/213114
• G2X — NAICS 2122 Metal Ore Mining: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/2122
• G2X — NAICS 541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services: https://app.g2xchange.com/naics/541360

What this NAICS covers

• Fee- or contract-based services necessary for metallic mineral mining and metal ore extraction operations. ²
• Mineral exploration using traditional prospecting methods at prospective metallic mineral sites. ²
• Core sampling programs in support of evaluating metallic mineral deposits. ²
• Geological observation and prospect evaluation for metallic minerals (non-geophysical). ²
• On-site support activities that directly assist metal ore mining or quarrying carried out by operators. ²
• Exploration activities explicitly excluding geophysical surveying and mapping services. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	2122	Metal Ore Mining
NAICS	213113	Support Activities for Coal Mining
NAICS	213115	Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels)
NAICS	541360	Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services

Scope notes and cross-references

• Includes mineral exploration for metallic minerals by traditional prospecting (e.g., core sampling, geological observations). ²
• Excludes geophysical surveying and mapping for metallic minerals, which is classified in 541360. ²
• Excludes operating metallic mineral mines or quarries on a contract basis; those activities fall under 2122. ²

Position in the NAICS structure

Sector 21 (Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction) > Subsector 213 (Support Activities for Mining) > Industry Group 21311 > U.S. Industry 213114. ²

2022 NAICS implementation context

Census Bureau programs are transitioning from 2017 to 2022 NAICS. The first detailed releases on a 2022 NAICS basis included the 2022 Economic Census First Look (January 2024) and subsequent 2024 releases for Geographic Area Statistics, the 2023 Annual Business Survey, and 2022 Nonemployer Statistics. Full adoption across programs is expected by year-end 2027. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What activities fall under 213114?
  Establishments provide fee- or contract-based support for metallic mineral mining and metal ore extraction, including traditional prospecting (core sampling, geological observations). Geophysical surveying is excluded and classified elsewhere. ²

• Is geophysical surveying included in 213114?
  No. Geophysical surveying and mapping (e.g., seismic, magnetic, gravity surveys) are classified in 541360, not in 213114. ³

• How does 213114 differ from 2122 Metal Ore Mining?
  213114 covers support services performed for others on a fee or contract basis. 2122 covers developing mine sites, mining metallic minerals, and ore beneficiating by the operators themselves. ²

• Did the 2022 NAICS revision change the definition of 213114?
  Not specified by official sources. ⁴

• When will federal data products fully reflect the 2022 NAICS vintage for 213114?
  The Census Bureau began publishing on a 2022 NAICS basis in 2024 and plans to complete adoption across most economic programs by the end of 2027. ⁴

Useful resources

• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 213114 definition and cross-references (Sector 21 archive page). ²
• U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (overview, impacts, timeline). ⁴
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS background and development (OMB, ECPC, 1997 adoption). ¹

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses: ECPC, OMB, and NAICS adoption history. 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 (includes official definition for 213114 and cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect21.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Sector 54 (541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect54.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (impacts and adoption timeline). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html