NAICS 213114 Quarterly Industry Report
Support Activities for Metal Mining
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 213114Sector: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Support Activities for Metal Mining (NAICS 213114) 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, mining sector analysts, and mining service industry investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the support activities for metal mining industry.
NAICS Sector
21
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Industry Definition & Overview
Support Activities for Metal Mining (NAICS 213114) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in performing support activities on a contract or fee basis for metal mining operations per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include exploration and core drilling, mine development and construction, overburden removal, mine site preparation, assaying and mineral testing, and other specialized services for gold, silver, copper, and other metal mine operators.
Exploration drilling represents a primary service category, with drilling contractors extracting core samples that geologists and mining engineers use for ore reserve estimation, metallurgical testing, and mine feasibility studies. Contract mining services for metal mines include open pit stripping, underground development, shaft sinking, and tailings management. Industry demand correlates with metal prices and upstream mining company exploration and development budgets, with gold and copper price strength in 2024 supporting increased exploration activity in Nevada, Arizona, and Alaska per USGS[6] mineral industry reporting. Major service providers range from global drilling firms like Major Drilling Group and Boart Longyear to regional contractors specializing in specific mining districts.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $22 million in average annual receipts. The Mine Safety and Health Administration[8] enforces safety standards for contract service providers at metal mines under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. EPA[9] environmental regulations apply to exploration activities that disturb surface land or generate drilling waste requiring proper disposal.
What's Included in This Industry
- Exploration and core drilling for metal deposits
- Reverse circulation and diamond core drilling
- Mine shaft sinking and underground development
- Open pit overburden removal and stripping
- Mine construction and infrastructure installation
- Geological and geotechnical drilling services
- Assaying and sample preparation at mine sites
- Tailings management and dam construction
- Mine dewatering and water management
- Mine closure and site remediation services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 21 |
| Subsector | Support Activities for Mining | 213 |
| Industry Group | Support Activities for Mining | 2131 |
| NAICS Industry | Support Activities for Mining | 21311 |
| National Industry | Support Activities for Metal Mining | 213114 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 212220 | Gold Ore and Silver Ore Mining | Gold Ore and Silver Ore Mining operators hire contract drilling and mine development companies for exploration programs, mine construction, and production support, with precious metal mine exploration budgets driving demand for core drilling services in Nevada and Alaska mining districts |
| 212230 | Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining | Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining engages contract service providers for open pit stripping, underground development, and exploration drilling at base metal deposits, with copper mine expansion projects generating large contract mining service requirements over multi-year development timelines |
| 212290 | Other Metal Ore Mining | Other Metal Ore Mining uses contract drilling and mine development services for uranium, rare earth, and specialty metal projects, with exploration drilling contractors performing the core sampling and deposit evaluation that precedes mine permitting and construction decisions |
| 213113 | Support Activities for Coal Mining | Support Activities for Coal Mining provides similar contract mining services for coal operations, with both metal and coal mining support companies sharing common heavy equipment types, drilling expertise, and MSHA contractor safety compliance requirements |
| 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | Testing Laboratories and Services performs fire assaying, metallurgical testing, and environmental analysis for metal mining operations, with assay laboratories providing the ore grade measurements that drive mine planning and ore reserve classification decisions |
| 541360 | Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services | Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services provides geophysical data that guides exploration targeting and drill hole placement at metal mining projects, with magnetic, gravity, and electromagnetic surveys helping identify subsurface mineralization before drilling programs begin |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 19.0% | 38 |
| 2 | Colorado | 12.0% | 24 |
| 3 | Idaho | 10.5% | 21 |
| 4 | Alaska | 10.5% | 21 |
| 5 | Arizona | 9.0% | 18 |
| 6 | Utah | 6.0% | 12 |
| 7 | Montana | 5.5% | 11 |
| 8 | Texas | 5.5% | 11 |
| 9 | Washington | 3.5% | 7 |
| 10 | Wyoming | 3.0% | 6 |
% Of Establishments
0%
19%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
32
Total SBA Loans
$41.0M
Total Loan Volume
$1.3M
Average Loan Size
9 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.56%
Average Interest Rate
1,896
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], Support Activities for Metal Mining (NAICS 213114) has a size standard of $22 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[12] support drilling equipment, mine development contracts, and working capital for qualifying metal mining support firms. 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 | 16 | $40.0M | $2.5M |
| 2 | Northeast Bank | 8 | $640K | $80K |
| 3 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 8 | $392K | $49K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is NAICS 213114?
NAICS 213114 covers support activities for metal mining including exploration drilling, mine construction, overburden removal, and assaying per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Metal mine operators who perform their own mining are classified under the appropriate 2122xx codes.
What is core drilling?
Core drilling extracts cylindrical rock samples from subsurface mineral deposits using diamond-tipped drill bits, providing continuous core that geologists analyze for ore grade, rock type, and metallurgical properties per standard mining exploration practice. Core samples support ore reserve estimation and mine feasibility studies.
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[7], the threshold is $22 million in average annual receipts for federal small business contracting eligibility and SBA lending products for metal mining support firms.
What drives demand for metal mining services?
Metal prices and upstream mining company exploration budgets directly determine service demand. Gold and copper price strength supports increased exploration drilling and mine development activity per USGS[6] mineral industry data, while price declines reduce exploration spending.
Who are major exploration drilling companies?
Major Drilling Group and Boart Longyear rank among the largest global exploration drilling contractors, with regional specialists serving specific mining districts across Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, and other U.S. metal mining regions per industry fleet data.
What safety regulations apply to mining contractors?
MSHA[8] requires contract service providers at metal mines to maintain independent safety programs, employee training records, and injury reporting under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. Contract mining workers face the same safety standards as mine operator employees.
What is reverse circulation drilling?
Reverse circulation (RC) drilling uses compressed air to return rock chips to the surface through the drill string, providing faster and less expensive samples than core drilling. RC drilling is commonly used for grade control and initial exploration before core drilling confirms deposit characteristics.
What is mine shaft sinking?
Shaft sinking is the construction of vertical access openings to underground ore bodies, requiring specialized concrete lining, steel sets, and hoisting equipment installation. Contract shaft sinking firms bring specialized crews and equipment to underground mine development projects.
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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