To provide periodic and comprehensive statistics about mining establishments
and activities. The United States Code, Title 13, authorizes this census and
provides for mandatory responses.
All domestic mining establishments that are classified in SIC Division B,
Mining, and have at least one employee. Establishment coverage has been the
same since 1967.
Basic data obtained include kind of business, geographic location, legal form
of ownership, total revenue, annual and first quarter payroll, and number of
employees for the pay period including March 12. Establishments receiving a
long form provide added detail on employment, payrolls, worker hours and payroll
supplements; and other data (including value of shipments, inventories, capital
expenditures, and quantity and value of products, supplies and fuels). A short
form requests only basic data, capital expenditures, and quantity and value
of products.
Reported data are for activities taking place during the previous calendar
year. The Census of Mining has been conducted every five years since 1967, for
years ending in "2" and "7." Previous censuses were conducted for years 1963,
1958, and 1954; approximately every 10 years throughout the prior century; and
for the first time in 1840.
A mail-out/mail-back census of 18,000 establishments of all multi-unit firms
and single establishments with payrolls above a cutoff size; plus
administrative data for all 11,000 non-mail single-establishments. The mail
census has 3 respondent groups and 2 forms. All establishments of multi-unit
firms receive a long form. Single establishments with payrolls larger than a
cutoff size that varies by industry (generally equivalent to 20 employees)
receive either a long or short form; most above cutoff firms receive a long
form; and some small firms (with 5 to 20 employees) in 3 industries that have a
large number of small firms (the crushed stone, sand and gravel, and crude
petroleum and natural gas industries) receive a short form to reduce burden.
For single-establishments below cutoff size (those not receiving a census
form), basic data are obtained from Federal income tax records and additional
data items are estimated using industry averages. In 1987, these indirect
methods provided information for some 12,500 smaller establishments (whose
combined shipments were no more than 3 percent of the Division total).
Preliminary Reports provide the earliest census results beginning about 12
months after the census year. The industry series consists of 12 reports
covering the 31 mining industries. A summary report provides industry
statistics at the 2-, 3-, 4-digit level for the U.S. and each state.
Final Industry Series provides reports that supersede preliminary series
beginning about 20 months after the census year. Added data detail include industry
products, selected supplies, minerals used, machinery installed, and fuels consumed.
Final Geographic Area Series consists of 9 reports covering the U.S.,
states, offshore Federal areas, the District of Columbia, and selected counties.
Industry statistics for 2-, 3-, and 4-digit industry levels are provided for
these areas.
Subject Reports include a General Summary (which supersedes
the Preliminary Summary report issued earlier), and data on Fuels and Electric
Energy Consumed, (which are on diskettes and CD-ROMs) and are available
beginning about 30 months after the census year.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the data in preparing and updating the
input-output tables, and to benchmark GDP estimates for mining industries. The
Federal Reserve Board uses the data in preparing the Index of Industrial
Production.
State and local agencies use the data in economic policy making and forecasting.
Private businesses and trade associations use the data for planning, market
analysis, and to help make investment and production decisions.
Provides the single best source of detailed industry data and information
to benchmark other statistics for the mining industry.
EXPLORE INFORMATION CONTINUE OVERVIEW Last revised:
Tuesday, 02-Aug-2011 18:06:30 EDT





CENSUS OF MINERAL INDUSTRIES
PURPOSE
COVERAGE
CONTENT
FREQUENCY
METHODS
PRODUCTS
USES
SPECIAL FEATURES
RELATED PROGRAMS
Enterprise Statistics
(discontinued 1992)
Current Industrial
Reports (Industrial Products)