SIC Code 10 - Metal Mining

This large category consists of businesses whose main activities are mining, developing mines, or searching for metallic minerals (ores). These ore are mostly valuable for the metals they contain, which may be collected and used alone or as a component of alloys, chemicals, pigments, or other goods. This main group also encompasses all ore dressing and beneficiating activities, whether they are carried out at mills that are run in tandem with the mines they service or at mills, like custom mills, that are run independently. These include mills that execute flotation or gravity separation processes, as well as those that crush, grind, wash, dry, sinter, calcine, or leach ore. Operations involving the production of magnesit and brucite are under Industry 1459, whereas those involving the crushing of dolomite go under Industry 1422. Manufacturing, Major Group 33, and businesses involved in manufacturing are the categories for smelters and refineries.