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Data / Mines / Common clays

Common clays mines in the US: 98 open mines

MSHA lists 98 open common clays mines in the US, run by 69 operators and employing 2,457 people. Since January 1, 2022 its inspectors issued 1,598 citations and orders there with $894,037 in proposed penalties, and operators reported 175 injury or illness cases. The operators with the most open mines are General Shale Brick, Inc.; Acme Brick Company; Kentucky Tennessee Clay Company. Data from MSHA, November 6, 2026.

SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. It reads the mine, citation, inspection and accident files that MSHA publishes, and this page is that reading. Ask for the mines of a commodity, state or operator with the operator's headquarters, website and size added from the web, and new mines, new citations and new accident reports arrive in your sheet, CRM, Slack or agent as MSHA posts them.

Open mines
98
Operators
69
Employees
2,457
Active
70
Intermittent
27
Temporarily Idled
1
Mines run by individuals, counted and not listed
2
Citations and orders since January 1, 2022
1,598
Significant and substantial
247 (15.5%)
Closure orders
23
High negligence or reckless
115
Proposed penalties
$894,037
Amount paid so far
$864,272
Inspections
1,104
Inspector hours on site
9,754
Citations per inspection
1.45 (all mines 2.30)
Accident reports
178
Injury and illness cases
175
Fatalities
0
Latest MSHA record
November 2, 2026

Operators with the most open mines

Ranked by open mines, then by citations. Sole proprietors and individuals are not listed.

OperatorOpen minesEmployeesCitations since 2022Proposed penaltiesInjury cases
General Shale Brick, Inc.103820$2,9730
Acme Brick Company53434$5,6290
Kentucky Tennessee Clay Company3130165$117,84712
Imerys Refractory Minerals USA Inc.322470$24,7973
KaMin LLC.315111$1,7738
Glen-Gery Corporation383$4310
Clariant Corporation27668$18,5839
Carbo Ceramics Inc27250$18,06214
Old Hickory Clay Company22046$14,0011
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.23237$8,7186
VM Buyer LLC22931$12,4094
U.S. Silica Company, LLC29025$7,1144
Elementis Specialties Inc23520$3,3553
Thiele Kaolin Company2543$4632
Mounds Production Company LLC129171$241,8265
Oil Dri Production Company LLC16399$147,09314
Nestle Purina PetCare Company152075$26,72720
Taft Production Company15648$72,2994
Applied Minerals, Inc.1545$13,7341
Blue Mountain Production Company LLC110243$48,93415
Gosdin's Dozer Service, Inc1642$6,7310
Profile Products LLC14837$8,6010
Byk USA LLC115736$5,8148
Western Clay, a Redmond LLC15033$7,5617
Covia Clay LLC12032$19,1523
Balcones Minerals Corp12226$4,7171
Active Minerals International LLC16824$4,52814
Muldoon Minerals Inc11624$4,1912
Texas Sodium Bentonite Inc1523$3,2870
Cmt Excavating Inc1521$4,4510
West Texas Rock Resources LLC1220$3,1600
Mid-Tex Minerals Inc1318$2,6710
PDSCo Inc1716$2,3930
Gleason Clay Company LLC13114$2,0161
NM Energy LLC1714$2,3641
Industrial Minerals Company11113$2,8812
J W Hughes Excavation, Inc.12413$1,8872
American Colloid Company Mineral Group13211$1,8312
US Brick, LLC1411$1,6011
Dennis Trucking Company Inc1610$1,4220
Piedmont Mining, LLC1710$1,5180
Rollins Construction & Trucking129$1,5660
Stiles & Hart Brick Company139$1,5140
Mangum Brick Company128$1,1600
Pits Dozing Inc148$2,7200
Ram-X Inc.136$1,3160
Carco Mineral Resources Inc185$7390
Mutual Materials Company155$7390
Usb Tennessee, LLC124$5320
Acme Brick Tile & Stone LLC123$00
Messer Clay Company133$4530
Pacific Clay Products Inc143$4491
Arcilla Mining & Land Company, LLC1342$1472
Arcosa LW BR, LLC.1462$2943
Burningham Enterprises Inc122$5270
Palmetto Brick Company132$3020
Usb Alabama, LLC122$2840
Mineral Manufacturing Corp.141$1510
Summit Pressed Brick & Tile Company111$1430
Taylor Clay Products111$1470
Bes Industries120$00
Continental Brick Company110$00
Frantz Bros Inc110$00
Hammill Construction Company Inc150$00
Pine Hall Brick110$00
Statesville Brick Company140$00
Triangle Brick Company150$00

Operators with the most citations

Citations and orders issued since January 1, 2022 at their open mines here.

Mines with the most citations

Open mines, ranked by citations and orders since January 1, 2022.

MineOperatorCountyMain commodityEmployeesCitations since 2022
LeFevre-Mager MineMounds Production Company LLCPulaski County, ILCommon clays29171
Ripley Mine and MillOil Dri Production Company LLCTippah County, MSCommon clays6399
Bloomfield PlantNestle Purina PetCare CompanyStoddard County, MOCommon clays52075
Quincy Plant and MinesClariant CorporationGadsden County, FLCommon clays7560
Kentucky-Tennessee Clay CompanyKentucky Tennessee Clay CompanyWashington County, GACommon clays5660
Mulcoa Plant No 2Imerys Refractory Minerals USA Inc.Sumter County, GACommon clays10658
Gleason Mills and MinesKentucky Tennessee Clay CompanyWeakley County, TNCommon clays5058
Taft Production Company & MinesTaft Production CompanyKern County, CACommon clays5648
K-T Clay CompanyKentucky Tennessee Clay CompanyAiken County, SCCommon clays2447
Dragon MineApplied Minerals, Inc.Juab County, UTCommon clays545
Jasper Creek MineBlue Mountain Production Company LLCTippah County, MSCommon clays10243
Millsap Shale MineGosdin's Dozer Service, IncParker County, TXCommon clays642
Blue Mountain Mine & MillProfile Products LLCTippah County, MSCommon clays4837
Byk USA LLC Plants & PitsByk USA LLCGonzales County, TXCommon clays15736
McIntyre PlantCarbo Ceramics IncWilkinson County, GACommon clays6234
Western Clay, a Redmond LLCWestern Clay, a Redmond LLCSevier County, UTCommon clays5033
Troup PlantCovia Clay LLCCherokee County, TXCommon clays2032
Dixie Clay (VM Buyer LLC)VM Buyer LLCAiken County, SCCommon clays2731
McIntyre PlantOld Hickory Clay CompanyWilkinson County, GACommon clays731
Balcones Pit & PlantBalcones Minerals CorpFayette County, TXCommon clays2226
Middleton OperationsU.S. Silica Company, LLCHardeman County, TNCommon clays9025
Active Minerals Kaolin DivisionActive Minerals International LLCWilkinson County, GACommon clays6824
Muldoon Minerals Inc.Muldoon Minerals IncFayette County, TXCommon clays1624
Texas Sodium Bentonite IncTexas Sodium Bentonite IncBrewster County, TXCommon clays523
Gleason Mills & MinesMartin Marietta Materials, Inc.Weakley County, TNCommon clays1822
Denton PitsAcme Brick CompanyDenton County, TXCommon clays322
Church Harvey MineCmt Excavating IncJefferson County, COCommon clays521
Wtrr Pieper Clay PitWest Texas Rock Resources LLCNolan County, TXCommon clays220
Flatonia Mines & PlantMid-Tex Minerals IncFayette County, TXCommon clays318
Newberry MillElementis Specialties IncSan Bernardino County, CACommon clays2316
ToomsboroCarbo Ceramics IncWilkinson County, GACommon clays1016
Cowboy Mining CoPDSCo IncBrewster County, TXCommon clays716
Henry County Mines & MillMartin Marietta Materials, Inc.Henry County, TNCommon clays1415
Gleason Clay MillOld Hickory Clay CompanyWeakley County, TNCommon clays1315
Weakley County OperationsGleason Clay Company LLCWeakley County, TNCommon clays3114
Martin 137NM Energy LLCMartin County, TXCommon clays714
Tilden PlantJ W Hughes Excavation, Inc.Mcmullen County, TXCommon clays2413
Florin PlantIndustrial Minerals CompanySacramento County, CACommon clays1113
Sandy Ridge MillAmerican Colloid Company Mineral GroupLowndes County, ALCommon clays3211
Usb Columbia (Mobley-Koon/Dry Branch))US Brick, LLCRichland County, SCCommon clays411
Mulcoa Plant #1Imerys Refractory Minerals USA Inc.Sumter County, GACommon clays10310
Shade MinePiedmont Mining, LLCAiken County, SCCommon clays710
Boral Bricks Terre Haute InDennis Trucking Company IncVigo County, INCommon clays610
Stiles & Hart Brick CompanyStiles & Hart Brick CompanyPlymouth County, MACommon clays39
Rollins MobileRollins Construction & TruckingBeaver County, UTCommon clays29
Moncure #2General Shale Brick, Inc.Chatham County, NCCommon clays158
Johnson PitPits Dozing IncMontgomery County, MOCommon clays48
Mangum Brick CompanyMangum Brick CompanyGreer County, OKCommon clays28
Clariant Corporation Georgia MinesClariant CorporationDecatur County, GACommon clays18
Phillips PitGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Pickens County, ALCommon clays66
Clay PitsRam-X Inc.Utah County, UTCommon clays36
Sandersville PlantKaMin LLC.Washington County, GACommon clays465
Dixie MineKaMin LLC.Wilkinson County, GACommon clays375
Bennett PlantAcme Brick CompanyParker County, TXCommon clays125
Caldwell PlantCarco Mineral Resources IncAda County, IDCommon clays85
Mica Mine and PlantMutual Materials CompanySpokane County, WACommon clays55
Hector MineElementis Specialties IncSan Bernardino County, CACommon clays124
Tulsa Plant Pit #665Acme Brick CompanyTulsa County, OKCommon clays44
Collins and Rich PitsUsb Tennessee, LLCWeakley County, TNCommon clays24
Chew and Abel MinesAcme Brick CompanyAustin County, TXCommon clays73
Pacific Clay PitsPacific Clay Products IncRiverside County, CACommon clays43
Messer Clay CompanyMesser Clay CompanyCarter County, KYCommon clays33
Maddox PitAcme Brick Tile & Stone LLCMontgomery County, ALCommon clays23
Livingston Plant #1672Arcosa LW BR, LLC.Sumter County, ALCommon clays462
Avant-Ennis Mine & MillThiele Kaolin CompanyWashington County, GACommon clays462
SheppardArcilla Mining & Land Company, LLCBaldwin County, GACommon clays342
Macon County MinesImerys Refractory Minerals USA Inc.Macon County, GACommon clays152
Irby MinePalmetto Brick CompanyMarlboro County, SCCommon clays32
Centreville MineUsb Alabama, LLCBibb County, ALCommon clays22
Burningham Portable #1Burningham Enterprises IncJuab County, UTCommon clays22
United Brick PitGlen-Gery CorporationDallas County, IACommon clays12
Richland County MinesGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Richland County, SCCommon clays12
Washington County MineKaMin LLC.Washington County, GACommon clays681
Gibraltar OperationsThiele Kaolin CompanyWilkinson County, GACommon clays81
Hanley Plant QuarriesGlen-Gery CorporationJefferson County, PACommon clays61
Elgin PlantGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Bastrop County, TXCommon clays51
Jones MineMineral Manufacturing Corp.Henry County, ALCommon clays41
Clay County PitGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Clay County, MSCommon clays41
Mineral Wells North Mineral Wells SouthGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Parker County, TXCommon clays21
Fox Clay PitSummit Pressed Brick & Tile CompanyPueblo County, COCommon clays11
CandorTaylor Clay ProductsMontgomery County, NCCommon clays11
Athens Plant & PitsGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Henderson County, TXCommon clays11
Tower PropertyAcme Brick CompanyCooke County, TXCommon clays80
Hammill PitHammill Construction Company IncCabarrus County, NCCommon clays50
Merry Oaks MineTriangle Brick CompanyChatham County, NCCommon clays50
Iredell MineStatesville Brick CompanyIredell County, NCCommon clays40
Riverside Pit & PlantBes IndustriesSt Clair County, ALCommon clays20
Buff/Satin MineVM Buyer LLCPershing County, NVCommon clays20
Beck MineGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Chatham County, NCCommon clays20
Brick Yard PitGlen-Gery CorporationWoodbury County, IACommon clays10
Pine Hall Brick Company IncPine Hall BrickRockingham County, NCCommon clays10
Kunkletown Clay PitFrantz Bros IncMonroe County, PACommon clays10
Kershaw County MinesGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Kershaw County, SCCommon clays10
Lexington County MinesGeneral Shale Brick, Inc.Lexington County, SCCommon clays10
Continental Brick Company Shale PitContinental Brick CompanyBerkeley County, WVCommon clays10
Cheto MineU.S. Silica Company, LLCApache County, AZCommon clays00

States

StateOpen minesShare
Texas1818.4%
Georgia1515.3%
South Carolina88.2%
Alabama77.1%
North Carolina77.1%
Tennessee77.1%
California55.1%
Utah55.1%
Mississippi44.1%
Oklahoma33.1%
Colorado22%
Iowa22%
Missouri22%
Pennsylvania22%
Arizona11%

Citations and injury cases by year

Calendar years since 2022; 2026 runs to the date of the MSHA files.

YearCitations and ordersSignificant and substantialProposed penaltiesInjury and illness cases
202234560$231,13136
202334042$249,15239
202432852$171,58248
202532258$157,99730
202626335$84,17522

Standards cited most at common clays mines

Sections of Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations named on the citations, with the part each belongs to.

StandardWhat the part coversCitations
30 CFR 56.20003Surface metal and nonmetal mines171
30 CFR 56.14100Surface metal and nonmetal mines131
30 CFR 56.12004Surface metal and nonmetal mines128
30 CFR 56.14112Surface metal and nonmetal mines121
30 CFR 56.12032Surface metal and nonmetal mines95
30 CFR 50.30Reporting of accidents, injuries and illnesses77
30 CFR 56.14107Surface metal and nonmetal mines76
30 CFR 56.12018Surface metal and nonmetal mines45
30 CFR 56.11001Surface metal and nonmetal mines40
30 CFR 56.14132Surface metal and nonmetal mines35
30 CFR 56.14101Surface metal and nonmetal mines34
30 CFR 56.12028Surface metal and nonmetal mines30
30 CFR 56.4201Surface metal and nonmetal mines29
30 CFR 56.18002Surface metal and nonmetal mines25
30 CFR 56.12008Surface metal and nonmetal mines24

Injury and illness cases at common clays mines

Accident reports by degree of injury, as the operator reported them to MSHA.

DegreeCases
Permanent disability3
Days away from work or restricted activity118
No lost time, or an occupational illness54

What the accident reports at common clays mines describe

Accident classification, as MSHA codes the circumstances that contributed most directly.

ClassificationReports
Handling of materials65
Slip or fall of person38
Machinery27
Handtools (nonpowered)19
Powered haulage8
Other7
Disorders (repeated trauma)4
Striking or bumping4
Electrical1
Exploding vessels under pressure1

Equipment named in accident reports at common clays mines

EquipmentReports
Hand tools (not powered)19
Packaging machine10
Hand tools (powered)9
Forklift6
Ore haulage trucks - off highway trucks5
Milling machinery4
Shovel4
Conveyor4
Machine3
Welding machine3

Updated November 6, 2026. Read from US Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Open Government Data Sets. US government work, public domain. Counts come from the MSHA files published on November 6, 2026. An open mine is one MSHA lists as Active, Intermittent, New Mine, Temporarily Idled or NonProducing; 13,673 were open that day. Citations, penalties, inspections and accident reports run from January 1, 2022. A citation is an inspector's allegation and an operator can contest it; the penalty is the amount MSHA first proposed, before any contest or settlement. An operator is the legal entity MSHA assesses, and a parent company is its controller. Mines run by sole proprietors or by individuals are counted in every total and are not named. This page uses MSHA data and is not endorsed or certified by MSHA. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0. Spot a wrong value? Write to [email protected] with the link to this page.