SSIC Section B – Mining and quarrying

Companies in this section take minerals out of the earth or the seabed, or give services that support oil and gas extraction.

The minerals can be solids, such as stone, sand, clay, coal and metal ores, liquids such as crude petroleum, or gases such as natural gas. Methods include underground and surface mining, quarrying, dredging, wells and seabed mining. The section also covers salt from sea water and other salt water.

The section includes work that prepares the raw material for sale, such as crushing, grinding, cleaning, drying, sorting and concentrating ores, and the liquefaction of natural gas. A mine is classified by its main mineral. Further processing of the materials belongs in manufacturing, and the use of the materials in construction belongs in construction.

Commonly registered businesses

• Oil and gas field services, such as drilling, well cementing and FPSO leasing (09002)
• Other mining, such as metal ores, coal, salt and fertiliser minerals (08900)
• Crude oil and natural gas exploration and production (09001)
• Stone quarries, including granite, marble, limestone and gravel (08101)
• Sand and clay quarrying and dredging (08102)