NAICS 213115 Quarterly Industry Report
Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels)
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 213115Sector: Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining (NAICS 213115) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[9], U.S. Geological Survey[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[10], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, construction materials analysts, and mining industry investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the support activities for nonmetallic minerals (except fuels) industry.
NAICS Sector
21
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Industry Definition & Overview
Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining (NAICS 213115) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in performing support activities on a contract or fee basis for nonmetallic minerals mining operations, excluding fuels, per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include contract overburden removal at stone quarries, drilling and blasting services, crushing plant operation, mine site preparation, and reclamation services for dimension stone, crushed stone, sand and gravel, clay, and other nonmetallic mineral operations.
Contract support services allow quarry and mine operators to outsource specialized or capital-intensive activities without maintaining dedicated equipment and crews. Demand for nonmetallic mining support correlates with construction activity levels and infrastructure spending, as crushed stone and sand and gravel production totaling over 2.4 billion metric tons annually per USGS[6] mineral data drives the majority of support service volume. Contract crushing operations using portable plants provide aggregate producers with flexible processing capacity during peak demand periods. Quarry drilling and blasting contractors bring specialized expertise and licensing to sites where operators lack in-house blasting capability.
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 workers at nonmetallic mineral operations under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, with contractor employees subject to the same training and safety requirements as quarry operator personnel.
What's Included in This Industry
- Contract overburden removal at stone quarries
- Drilling and blasting services for quarry operations
- Portable crushing and screening plant operations
- Mine site preparation and access road construction
- Quarry reclamation and land restoration services
- Exploration drilling for nonmetallic mineral deposits
- Clay mine stripping and development services
- Sand and gravel pit development and dewatering
- Aggregate washing and classification services
- Industrial mineral processing on a contract basis
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 Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining | 213115 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 212312 | Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying | Crushed and Broken Limestone Mining and Quarrying operators hire contract service providers for drilling, blasting, crushing, and reclamation activities, with portable crushing contractors providing flexible aggregate processing capacity during peak construction demand periods |
| 212313 | Crushed and Broken Granite Mining and Quarrying | Crushed and Broken Granite Mining and Quarrying engages contract drilling and blasting specialists for quarry face development, with granite's hardness requiring specialized drill patterns and explosive charges beyond the capability of some quarry operators |
| 212321 | Construction Sand and Gravel Mining | Construction Sand and Gravel Mining uses contract dewatering, pit development, and portable washing services, with support contractors providing sand and gravel producers seasonal processing capacity and new pit development expertise on a fee basis |
| 212323 | Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining | Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining engages contract stripping and mine development services for clay deposit access, with overburden removal contractors providing the earthmoving capacity needed to open new mining faces at clay operations |
| 212390 | Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying uses contract support services for diverse industrial mineral operations including potash, phosphate, and specialty mineral extraction, with contract mining firms providing specialized equipment and expertise across multiple mineral commodity types |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 10.1% | 18 |
| 2 | Texas | 6.7% | 12 |
| 3 | Arizona | 6.7% | 12 |
| 4 | Oregon | 5.6% | 10 |
| 5 | Utah | 5.1% | 9 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 5.1% | 9 |
| 7 | Georgia | 5.1% | 9 |
| 8 | New York | 4.5% | 8 |
| 9 | Nevada | 3.9% | 7 |
| 10 | Michigan | 3.9% | 7 |
% Of Establishments
0%
10%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
40
Total SBA Loans
$9.6M
Total Loan Volume
$239K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.65%
Average Interest Rate
56
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 Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining (NAICS 213115) has a size standard of $22 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[11] support portable crushing equipment, drill rigs, and working capital for qualifying nonmetallic mining support firms. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[12] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[13] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank of Colorado | 8 | $5.8M | $728K |
| 2 | Northeast Bank | 24 | $2.5M | $106K |
| 3 | BayFirst National Bank | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is NAICS 213115?
NAICS 213115 covers support activities for nonmetallic minerals (except fuels) mining including contract quarrying, drilling, blasting, crushing, and reclamation per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What are portable crushing services?
Portable crushing uses mobile jaw, cone, and impact crusher plants moved to quarry sites to process stone on a contract basis. Portable crushing provides aggregate producers with flexible processing capacity without permanent plant investment, serving peak demand and temporary project needs.
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 nonmetallic mining support firms.
What types of quarries use contract support?
Crushed stone quarries, sand and gravel pits, dimension stone operations, and industrial mineral mines all use contract support services per USGS[6] mineral industry reporting. Contract drilling, blasting, and portable crushing represent the most common outsourced services.
What safety requirements apply to quarry contractors?
MSHA[8] requires contract workers at quarries and mines to meet the same training and safety standards as quarry operator employees under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. Contractor companies must maintain independent safety programs and training documentation.
What is contract blasting?
Contract blasting provides licensed explosives handling and detonation services to quarry operators who lack in-house blasting capability or licensing. Blasting contractors design drill patterns, load explosives, and manage detonation sequences to fragment rock for efficient crushing and loading.
How large is the nonmetallic minerals industry?
Crushed stone and sand and gravel production alone exceeds 2.4 billion metric tons annually per USGS[6] mineral data, with this production base supporting contract drilling, blasting, crushing, and reclamation services from thousands of support service providers.
Can construction companies provide quarry support?
Heavy civil and site preparation firms sometimes perform quarry overburden removal and related earthwork using similar equipment. However, MSHA safety training requirements, blasting licensing, and mine-specific operational knowledge create barriers that distinguish dedicated mining support contractors from general construction firms.
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]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [10]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [11]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [12]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [13]504 loans sba.gov
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