Non-Metal Mining & Quarrying

The 3,000 non-metal mining companies in the US develop mine sites, extract non-metallic minerals from mines, and process the minerals mechanically through beneficiation (crushing, grinding, washing, separating, and concentrating) or by using chemical or electrochemical techniques. Products include dimensional stone blocks or slabs, crushed or broken stone, sand and gravel, clay, and minerals such as potash, soda, borate, sodium, potassium, and phosphate.

Environmental Impacts Of Extraction

During operation, mining companies must control soil erosion and prevent runoff that could contaminate nearby bodies of water.

Injuries and Fatalities Drive Regulation

The mining industry has a high injury and fatality rate.

Jul 27, 2026 - USDA Invests in US Fertilizer Production

• In July, the USDA launched the $500 million Fertilizer Investment and Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program to increase US production of nitrogen, phosphate, potash, sulfur, and other critical crop nutrients. The program will fund construction and expansion of fertilizer manufacturing facilities, with grants of $15 million to $150 million for shovel-ready, financially viable projects that can quickly boost domestic output. The initiative follows the Trump administration's designation of phosphate and potash as critical minerals and complements actions to suspend duties on phosphate imports and improve fertilizer supply chains. For US producers of potash, phosphate, and other fertilizer minerals, the program could spur new mining and processing investment, strengthen domestic manufacturing, reduce reliance on imports, and improve long-term fertilizer availability and price stability for American farmers. The US mines relatively little potash compared to Canada, with Intrepid Potash being the only US producer.
• Growing pressure on water usage and environmental compliance is driving increased adoption of fines recovery systems, Pit & Quarry reports. Traditionally, operations have relied on settling ponds to manage fine materials, but these systems are land-intensive, costly to maintain, and inefficient, often leading to lost product and higher operating expenses. New fines recovery technologies, such as hydrocyclones, dewatering screens, and filter presses, capture fine materials that were previously discarded, potentially turning waste into saleable products and improving profitability. These systems also enable water recycling, reduce reliance on tailings ponds, and help firms comply with tightening environmental regulations. For quarrying and non-metal mining companies, this shift represents both a cost-saving opportunity and a strategic necessity. Firms that invest in fines recovery can increase yields, lower environmental impact, and extend the life of existing operations, while those that don’t may face rising costs, regulatory pressure, and reduced competitiveness.
• Year-to-date mining industry fatalities numbered 29 in November 2025, one more than the total from 2024, Pit & Quarry reports citing the latest data from the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA). In mid-October a miner died at a lime facility in an accident the agency classified as a slip or fall of a person. Later in the month, another miner died at a crushed stone operation in Florida that MSHA characterized as a powered haulage accident. Another miner died in a powered haulage accident in November at an underground coal mine in West Virginia due to inundation. Of the 29 fatal mine accidents so far in 2025, nearly half (13) were due to powered haulage. MSHA attributed four fatal accidents this year to machinery. The all-time-low mark for mining fatalities in a single year is 25, the total in 2016.
• Producer prices for non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying rose 5.1% in June compared to a year ago, after rising 6.7% in the previous June-to-June annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Industry producer prices hit another record high in June, extending a five-and-a-half year climb. Industry payrolls also are at all-time highs: Employment by non-metal mining and quarrying firms grew 3.5% year over year in May, while the average industry wage rose 4.7% over the same period to a new high of $30.51 per hour, BLS data show.

Industry size & Structure

The average non-metal mining company operates out of one to two locations, has about $13 million in annual revenue, and employs about 35 workers.

• The non-metal mining industry consists of about 3,000 firms that employ 104,300 workers and generate about $38.3 billion annually.
• Major industry segments include dimensional and crushed stone mining and quarrying; sand and gravel quarrying and dredging; and clay, ceramic, refractory, and other nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying.
• About 72% of establishments have fewer than 20 employees.
• Most companies operate only one or two mine sites at a time, due to the large capital investment in equipment needed for extraction and processing.
• Large US companies include CRH Americas Materials, Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta, Heidelberg Materials, Amrize (formerly Holcim US), The Mosaic Company, Compass Minerals International, Intrepid Potash, and United States Lime & Minerals.
• Texas, California, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are the leading US states for aggregate production, according to the USGS.