Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 2.1 (NACE Rev. 2.1) - Section B

Mining and quarrying include the extraction of minerals occurring naturally as solids (coal and ores), liquids (petroleum) or gases (natural gas). Extraction can be achieved by different methods (for example, underground or surface mining, well operation, seabed mining).

This section includes supplementary activities aimed at preparing the crude materials for marketing (for example, crushing, grinding, cleaning, drying, sorting, concentrating ores and liquefaction of natural gas). 

Mining activities are classified into divisions, groups and classes on the basis of the principal mineral produced. Divisions 05 and 06 are concerned with mining and quarrying of fossil fuels (coal, lignite, petroleum, gas); divisions 07 and 08 concern metal ores, various minerals and quarry products. 

Some of the technical operations of this section, particularly related to the extraction of hydrocarbons, may also be carried out for third parties by specialised units as an industrial service activity which is reflected in division 09.

This division includes the extraction of solid mineral fuels through underground or open-cast mining and includes operations (for example, grading, cleaning, compressing and other steps necessary for transport) leading to a marketable product.

This class includes:
- mining of hard coal: underground or surface mining, including mining through liquefaction methods
- cleaning, sizing, grading, pulverising, compressing, etc. of coal to classify, improve quality or facilitate transport or storage

This class includes:
- mining of lignite (brown coal): underground or surface mining, including mining through liquefaction methods
- washing, dehydrating, pulverising, compressing of lignite to improve quality or facilitate transport or storage

This division includes the production of crude petroleum, the mining and extraction of oil from oil shale and oil sands, and the production of natural gas and recovery of hydrocarbon liquids.
This division also includes the activities of operating and/or developing oilfields and gas fields. Such activities may include drilling, completing and equipping wells; operating separators, emulsion breakers, desalting equipment and field-gathering lines for crude petroleum; all other activities in the preparation of oil and gas up to the point of shipment from the producing property.

This class includes:
- extraction of crude petroleum oils

This class includes:
- production of crude gaseous hydrocarbon (natural gas)
- extraction of condensates
- draining and separation of liquid hydrocarbon fractions
- gas desulphurisation
- extraction of coal mine methane

This division includes mining for metallic minerals (ores), performed through underground or open-cast extraction, seabed mining, and so on.

This class includes:
- mining of ores valued chiefly for iron content
- beneficiation of iron ores

This group includes the mining of non-ferrous metal ores.

This class includes:
- mining of ores chiefly valued for uranium and thorium content: pitchblende, etc.
- concentration of such ores
- manufacture of yellowcake

This class includes:
- mining and preparation of ores chiefly valued for non-ferrous metal content:
 • aluminium (bauxite), copper, lead, zinc, tin, manganese, chrome, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, tantalum, vanadium, lithium/spodumene, etc.
 • precious metals: gold, silver, platinum

This division includes extraction from a mine or quarry, but also dredging of alluvial deposits, rock crushing and the use of salt marshes. The products are used most notably in construction (for example, sands, stones), the manufacture of materials (for example, clay, gypsum, calcium), the manufacture of chemicals, and so on.

This class includes:
- quarrying, rough trimming and sawing of monumental and building stone (for example, marble, granite, sandstone)
- breaking and crushing of ornamental and building stone
- quarrying, crushing and breaking of limestone
- mining of gypsum and anhydrite
- mining of chalk and uncalcined dolomite
- production of granules, chippings and powder of extracted stones, whether heat-treated or not

This class includes:
- extraction and dredging of industrial sand, sand for construction and gravel
- breaking and crushing of gravel
- quarrying of sand
- mining of clays, refractory clays and kaolin

This class includes:
- mining of natural phosphates and natural potassium salts
- mining of native sulphur
- extraction and preparation of pyrites and pyrrhotite, except roasting
- mining of natural barium sulphate and carbonate (barytes and witherite), natural borates, natural magnesium sulphates (kieserite)
- mining of earth colours, fluorspar and other minerals valued chiefly as a source of chemicals

This class includes:
- peat digging
- preparation of peat to improve quality or facilitate transport/storage

This class includes:
- extraction of salt from underground, including by dissolving and pumping
- salt production by evaporation of sea water or other saline waters
- crushing, purification and refining of salt by the producer

This class includes:
- mining and quarrying of various minerals and materials:
 • abrasive materials, asbestos, siliceous fossil meals, natural graphite, steatite (talc), feldspar, etc.
 • natural asphalt, asphaltites and asphaltic rock; natural solid bitumen
 • gemstones, quartz, mica, etc.

This division includes specialised support services incidental to mining provided on a fee or contract basis. It includes exploration services through traditional prospecting methods (for example, taking core samples and making geological observations as well as drilling, test drilling or redrilling for oil wells, metallic and non-metallic minerals). Other typical services cover building oil and gas well foundations, cementing oil and gas well casings, cleaning, bailing and swabbing oil and gas wells, draining and pumping mines, and so on.

This class includes:
- oil and gas extraction service activities provided on a fee or contract basis:
 • exploration services in connection with petroleum or gas extraction (e.g. traditional prospecting methods, making geological observations at prospective sites)
 • directional drilling and redrilling; 'spudding in'; derrick erection in situ, repairing and dismantling; cementing oil and gas well casings; pumping of wells; plugging and abandoning wells, etc.
 • liquefaction and regasification of natural gas for the purpose of transport, done at the mine site
 • draining and pumping services on a fee or contract basis
 • test drilling in connection with petroleum or gas extraction

This class includes:
- support services on a fee or contract basis, required for mining activities of divisions 05, 07, 08
 • exploration services by using traditional prospecting methods (e.g. taking core samples and making geological observations at prospective sites)
 • draining and pumping services on a fee or contract basis
 • test drilling and test hole boring
- securing mine shafts and tunnels
- demolition and dismantling of underground mining facilities