Registry · NAICS Index · Sector 21

212323 — Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining

NAICS 212323 is 'Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining', a 2022 U.S. national industry under Sector 21 (Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction); the SBA small-business size standard is 650 employees (defined under 13 CFR § 121.201).

Description

This U.S. industry comprises (1) establishments primarily engaged in developing the mine site and/or mining clay (e.g., china clay, paper clay and slip clay) or ceramic and refractory minerals and (2) establishments primarily engaged in beneficiating (i.e., preparing) clay or ceramic and refractory minerals (as defined in the official U.S. Census Bureau 2022 NAICS Manual).

Illustrative Examples

  • Bentonite mining and/or beneficiating
  • Fuller's earth mining and/or beneficiating
  • Common clay mining and/or beneficiating
  • Kaolin mining and/or beneficiating
  • Feldspar mining and/or beneficiating
  • Ball clay mining and/or beneficiating
  • Fire clay mining and/or beneficiating
  • Shale (except oil shale) mining and/or beneficiating

Overview Facts

NAICS Structure: 212323 National Industry
Sector (2)
21
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
Subsector (3)
212
Mining (except Oil and Gas)
Industry Group (4)
2123
Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying
Industry (5)
21232
Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying
National Industry (6)
212323
Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining

Legacy SIC Concordance

Trace the historical mapping chain from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) to the modern 2022 NAICS code format.

Suggested Product Service Codes (Advisory)

The following Product Service Codes (PSCs) are advisory suggestions aligned with this NAICS code. Note: NAICS and PSC codes map to different dimensions of procurement (industry vs. product/service). There is no official binding 1:1 crosswalk.

  • PSC 3820 — Mining, Rock Drilling, Earth Boring, and Related Equipment
  • PSC 9620 — Minerals, Natural and Synthetic

Source: DoD DPCAP PSC Selection Tool (Ingested: 2026-06-29)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is NAICS code 212323 valid in 2022? ▾

Yes, 212323 is a valid 6-digit 2022 NAICS national industry code representing 'Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining' under Sector 21 in the official classification index.

What is the SBA size standard for NAICS code 212323? ▾

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established a small business size standard of 650 employees for NAICS code 212323 (Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining), calculated based on employees.

What is the legacy SIC equivalent for NAICS 212323? ▾

According to official Census Bureau concordance tables, NAICS code 212323 (Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining) maps to legacy 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes: 1455 - Kaolin and Ball Clay, 1459 - Clay, Ceramic, and Refractory Minerals, NEC, 3295 - Minerals and Earths, Ground or Otherwise Treated.

Related Pages & Tools

Further regulatory reference links for NAICS code 212323: