NAICS 212312 Quarterly Industry Report
Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 212312Sector: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying (NAICS 212312) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[10], U.S. Geological Survey[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[11], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, construction materials analysts, and aggregate industry investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the crushed and broken limestone mining industry.
NAICS Sector
21
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Industry Definition & Overview
Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying (NAICS 212312) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in mining or quarrying limestone and dolomite and crushing and breaking it for use as aggregate, chemical raw material, flux stone, and agricultural lime per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include limestone crushing and screening, dolomite quarrying, flux stone production for steelmaking, agricultural limestone grinding, and riprap production for erosion control.
U.S. crushed stone production totaled 1.5 billion metric tons in 2023 per USGS[6] mineral commodity data, with limestone and dolomite accounting for roughly 69% of all crushed stone output. An estimated 1,400 companies operate 3,500 quarries across all 50 states. Texas, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Ohio rank as the five largest producing states, together accounting for over 30% of national output. Vulcan Materials Company holds the dominant market position, followed by Martin Marietta Materials and LafargeHolcim. Road construction and maintenance consumes roughly 70% of crushed limestone production, cement manufacturing uses 20%, and lime production accounts for 7% per industry consumption data. Construction of one mile of four-lane highway requires more than 30,000 tons of crushed stone, and a single new house needs an average of 400 tons of aggregate.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $30.5 million in average annual receipts. The Mine Safety and Health Administration[8] conducts at least two annual inspections at surface quarries under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. EPA[9] regulates particulate matter emissions from crushing, screening, and material handling operations at limestone quarries through National Ambient Air Quality Standards and state-issued air permits.
What's Included in This Industry
- Limestone crushing, screening, and sizing for aggregate
- Dolomite quarrying and crushing operations
- Flux stone production for iron and steel manufacturing
- Agricultural limestone grinding and distribution
- Riprap and armor stone production for erosion control
- Limestone fines and powder production
- Ready-mix concrete aggregate supply
- Hot mix asphalt aggregate production
- Road base and subbase material production
- Quarry reclamation and land restoration
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 21 |
| Subsector | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | 212 |
| Industry Group | Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 2123 |
| NAICS Industry | Stone Mining and Quarrying | 21231 |
| National Industry | Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying | 212312 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 212313 | Crushed and Broken Granite Mining and Quarrying | Crushed and Broken Granite Mining and Quarrying produces granite aggregate through similar crushing and screening processes, with granite accounting for roughly 15% of total crushed stone output compared to limestone's 69% share, and both aggregate types competing for road construction and concrete production applications |
| 212311 | Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying | Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying extracts limestone in intact blocks and slabs for building construction and decorative applications, while crushed limestone quarrying breaks stone into aggregate-sized pieces for road base, concrete, and industrial uses through different extraction and processing methods |
| 212321 | Construction Sand and Gravel Mining | Construction Sand and Gravel Mining produces natural sand and gravel aggregate that competes with crushed limestone for many construction applications, with aggregate selection between crushed stone and natural gravel depending on local availability, material specifications, and delivered pricing |
| 327310 | Cement Manufacturing | Cement Manufacturing consumes roughly 20% of crushed limestone production as the primary raw material for portland cement production, with cement plants often located adjacent to limestone quarries to reduce transportation costs for this high-volume, low-value bulk material |
| 327410 | Lime Manufacturing | Lime Manufacturing uses high-calcium limestone as feedstock for quicklime and hydrated lime production, with lime plants requiring specific limestone chemistry including minimum calcium carbonate content and low impurity levels that quarries must consistently supply |
| 237310 | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction consumes roughly 70% of crushed limestone production for road base, subbase, and asphalt and concrete aggregate, with federal and state highway spending levels directly driving aggregate demand volumes and quarry production schedules |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | 11.2% | 154 |
| 2 | Iowa | 8.1% | 112 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.9% | 95 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 6.9% | 95 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 6.7% | 92 |
| 6 | Illinois | 6.5% | 89 |
| 7 | Indiana | 5.7% | 79 |
| 8 | Ohio | 5.2% | 72 |
| 9 | Alabama | 4.0% | 55 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 3.6% | 50 |
% Of Establishments
0%
11%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
8
Total SBA Loans
$23.6M
Total Loan Volume
$2.9M
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.75%
Average Interest Rate
64
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying (NAICS 212312) has a size standard of $30.5 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[12] support crushing equipment acquisition, quarry development, and working capital for qualifying limestone quarrying operations. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[13] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[14] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banesco USA | 8 | $23.6M | $2.9M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for limestone quarrying?
NAICS 212312 covers crushed and broken limestone mining and quarrying per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Dimension limestone block quarrying is classified separately under NAICS 212311.
How much crushed stone does the U.S. produce?
U.S. crushed stone production totaled 1.5 billion metric tons in 2023 per USGS[6] data, with limestone and dolomite accounting for roughly 69% of all output from an estimated 3,500 quarries operated by 1,400 companies nationwide.
What is the SBA size standard for limestone quarrying?
Per the SBA size standard[7], the threshold is $30.5 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending for crushed limestone operations.
What is crushed limestone used for?
Road construction and maintenance consumes roughly 70% of production, cement manufacturing uses 20%, and lime production accounts for 7% per USGS[6] consumption data. Additional uses include concrete aggregate, agricultural lime, and railroad ballast.
How much aggregate does road construction require?
Construction of one mile of four-lane highway requires more than 30,000 tons of crushed stone per industry engineering estimates. A single new house needs an average of 400 tons of aggregate for foundation, driveway, and infrastructure work.
Which states produce the most crushed limestone?
Texas, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Ohio rank as the five largest producing states per USGS[6] state production data, together accounting for over 30% of national crushed stone output from hundreds of active quarries.
Who are the largest crushed stone producers?
Vulcan Materials Company holds the dominant market position in U.S. crushed stone production, followed by Martin Marietta Materials and LafargeHolcim per industry market share data. Regional producers maintain strong competitive positions in local markets due to high transportation costs.
What environmental regulations apply to limestone quarries?
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]USGS usgs.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]Mine Safety and Health Administration msha.gov
- [9]EPA epa.gov
- [10]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [11]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [12]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [13]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [14]504 loans sba.gov
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