This Chapter has been extracted from the ONS Explanatory Notes and provides a more detailed explanation of possible activities that could fall within the SIC Codes related to the Chapter.
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 (e.g. sands, stones etc.), manufacture of materials (e.g. clay, gypsum, calcium etc.), manufacture of chemicals etc.
This division does not include processing (except crushing, grinding, cutting, cleaning, drying, sorting and mixing) of the minerals extracted.
08.1 Quarrying of stone, sand and clay
08.11 Quarrying of ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slate
This class includes:
- quarrying, rough trimming and sawing of monumental and building stone such as marble, granite,
sandstone etc.
- 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
This class excludes:
- mining of chemical and fertiliser minerals, see 08.91
- production of calcined dolomite, see 23.52
- cutting, shaping and finishing of stone outside quarries, see 23.70
08.12 Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin
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 excludes:
- mining of bituminous sand, see 06.10
08.9 Mining and quarrying n.e.c.
08.91 Mining of chemical and fertiliser minerals
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 also includes:
- guano mining
This class excludes:
- extraction of salt, see 08.93
- roasting of iron pyrites, see 20.13
- manufacture of synthetic fertilisers and nitrogen compounds, see 20.15
08.92 Extraction of peat
This class includes:
- peat digging
- preparation of peat to improve quality or facilitate transport or storage
This class excludes:
- service activities incidental to peat mining, see 09.90
- manufacturing of peat briquettes, see 19.20
- manufacture of potting soil mixtures of peat, natural soil, sands, clays, fertiliser minerals etc., see 20.15
- manufacture of articles of peat, see 23.99
08.93 Extraction of salt
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 excludes:
- processing of salt into food-grade salt, e.g. iodised salt, see 10.84
- potable water production by evaporation of saline water, see 36.00
08.99 Other mining and quarrying n.e.c.
This class includes:
- mining and quarrying of various minerals and materials:
• abrasive materials, asbestos, siliceous fossil meals, natural graphite, steatite (talc), feldspar etc.
• gemstones, quartz, mica etc.
• natural asphalt, asphaltites and asphaltic rock; natural solid bitumen
For all queries related to this Chapter or any other aspect of SIC Codes, please contact the Office of National Statistics on 01329 444970 or email classifications.helpdesk@ons.gov.uk.