NAICS 212390 Quarterly Industry Report
Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 212390Sector: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (NAICS 212390) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[9], U.S. Geological Survey[10], Bureau of Labor Statistics[11], and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, industrial minerals analysts, and mining industry investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the other nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (NAICS 212390) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in mining and quarrying nonmetallic minerals not classified elsewhere, including potash, soda ash, boron minerals, phosphate rock, talc, mica, perlite, pumice, gypsum, and other industrial minerals per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Activities include potash solution mining, trona mining for soda ash production, phosphate rock extraction for fertilizer manufacturing, and industrial mineral beneficiation.
Wyoming's Green River Basin contains the world's largest trona deposits, producing roughly 90% of U.S. soda ash (sodium carbonate) for glass, chemical, and detergent manufacturing per USGS[5] mineral data. Florida and North Carolina lead phosphate rock production for fertilizer and animal feed manufacturing. New Mexico dominates potash output from the Carlsbad mining district, with solution mining and conventional underground methods both in active use. California's Boron mine operated by Rio Tinto produces roughly 30% of global boron supply for fiberglass, agriculture, and detergent applications. Talc, mica, perlite, pumice, and diatomite round out the diverse range of industrial minerals covered by this classification.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $30.5 million in average annual receipts. The Mine Safety and Health Administration[7] regulates both surface and underground operations under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. EPA[8] mining effluent guidelines apply to wastewater discharge, with phosphate mining operations subject to additional regulatory scrutiny for phosphogypsum waste management and groundwater protection requirements.
What's Included in This Industry
- Potash solution mining and conventional underground extraction
- Trona mining and soda ash (sodium carbonate) production
- Phosphate rock mining for fertilizer manufacturing
- Boron mineral mining and borax production
- Talc mining and processing for industrial uses
- Mica mining and processing for electronics and coatings
- Perlite and pumice mining for lightweight aggregate
- Diatomite mining for filtration and absorbent products
- Gypsum mining for wallboard and plaster manufacturing
- Industrial mineral beneficiation and packaging
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 | Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 21239 |
| National Industry | Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | 212390 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 212323 | Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining | Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining extracts clay minerals using similar surface mining methods, with both classifications sharing common MSHA regulatory oversight and environmental compliance requirements for surface mining and mineral beneficiation operations |
| 325311 | Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing | Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing consumes potash and phosphate rock from mining operations as primary raw materials for fertilizer production, with agricultural demand cycles and global commodity pricing directly affecting mine production volumes and investment in new mineral extraction capacity |
| 325312 | Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing | Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing processes phosphate rock from mining operations into diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and other phosphate fertilizer products, with Florida and North Carolina mine output feeding domestic and export fertilizer production |
| 327211 | Flat Glass Manufacturing | Flat Glass Manufacturing consumes soda ash as a flux that lowers the melting temperature of silica sand in glass production, with glass plant soda ash procurement representing a primary demand driver for Wyoming trona mining and processing operations |
| 327420 | Gypsum Product Manufacturing | Gypsum Product Manufacturing produces wallboard, plaster, and joint compound from mined gypsum, with wallboard production volumes tracking residential and commercial construction starts that determine gypsum mining output levels and quarry production schedules |
| 213115 | Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining | Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining provides contract drilling, overburden removal, and mine development services to nonmetallic mineral operators, with support contractors supplementing mine workforces during expansion projects and seasonal production peaks |
SBA Lending Summary
16
Total SBA Loans
$41.2M
Total Loan Volume
$2.6M
Average Loan Size
12 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.38%
Average Interest Rate
288
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[3]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (NAICS 212390) has a size standard of $30.5 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[12] support mine development, processing equipment, and working capital for qualifying nonmetallic mineral mining 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 | Old National Bank | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 2 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is NAICS 212390?
NAICS 212390 covers nonmetallic mineral mining not classified elsewhere, including potash, soda ash, phosphate rock, boron, talc, mica, perlite, and gypsum per the U.S. Census Bureau[4].
What is trona?
Trona is a sodium sesquicarbonate mineral mined in Wyoming's Green River Basin and processed into soda ash (sodium carbonate) per USGS[5] mineral data. Wyoming produces roughly 90% of U.S. soda ash used in glass, chemicals, and detergent manufacturing.
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[6], the threshold is $30.5 million in average annual receipts for federal small business contracting eligibility and SBA lending products for nonmetallic mineral mining firms.
Where is phosphate rock mined?
Florida and North Carolina lead U.S. phosphate rock production for fertilizer and animal feed manufacturing per USGS[10] mineral commodity data. Phosphate rock is processed into phosphoric acid and then into diammonium phosphate and other fertilizer products.
What is potash used for?
Potash (potassium chloride and potassium sulfate) serves as a primary plant nutrient in agricultural fertilizers per USGS[10] mineral data. New Mexico's Carlsbad district produces most domestic potash through solution mining and conventional underground extraction methods.
What is perlite?
Perlite is a volcanic glass that expands when heated to create lightweight, fire-resistant aggregate used in construction insulation, horticultural growing media, and industrial filtration per industry mineral specifications. New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon contain the primary U.S. perlite deposits.
What environmental concerns affect phosphate mining?
EPA[8] mining effluent guidelines regulate wastewater from phosphate operations. Phosphogypsum waste management, groundwater protection, and reclamation of mined lands represent the primary environmental compliance challenges at Florida phosphate mining operations.
What is diatomite?
Diatomite (diatomaceous earth) is a sedimentary rock composed of fossilized diatom shells mined for filtration, absorbent, and filler applications per USGS[10] mineral data. California and Oregon produce most domestic diatomite for beer and wine filtration, swimming pool filters, and industrial absorbent products.
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. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]USGS usgs.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]Mine Safety and Health Administration msha.gov
- [8]EPA epa.gov
- [9]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [10]U.S. Geological Survey usgs.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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