Document 5wrM3YEXwjnLqoeLB6BNN7GR

Tale and Pyrophyllite By Robert L. Virta1 Domestic production of talc and pyrophyllite increased 4% from that of 1986. Sales of crude and processed talc and pyrophyllite decreased slightly in tonnage and increased slightly in value. Imports for consumption increased slightly. Exports increased 36% in tonnage and 29% in value. Dom estic Data Coverage.--Domestic pro duction and sales data for talc and pyro phyllite are developed by the Bureau of M ines from a voluntary survey of U.S. m ines and m ills. Of the 82 m ines and m ills to which a survey request was sent, 56 responded, representing 68% of the U.S. production data shown in table 1. Produc tion for the 26 nonrespondents was esti m ated using reported prior year production levels adjusted by trends in employment and other guidelines. Table 1.--Salient talc and pyrophyllite statistics (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 United States: Mine production, crude: T alc Pyrophyllite T o tal1 V alue: Talc Pyrophyllite T o tal ._ ._ .. _ ._ _ .. .. 980 87 1,066 1,042 85 1,127 1,188 81 1,269 1,219 83 1,302 1,258 92 1,349 $18,998 1,282 20,280 $21,755 1,412 23,167 $27,768 1,420 29,188 $29,687 1,540 31,227 $27,178 1,607 28,785 Sold by producers, crude and processed: Talc P y ro p h y llite Total V alue: Talc Pyrophyllite T otal1 Exports2 (talc) V alue Im ports for consumption3 (talc) V alue Consumption, apparent4 World: Production _ .. .. .. .. .. .. -. .. .. .. . .- 1,038 125 1,163 1,101 97 1,198 1,067 81 1,148 1,070 83 1,153 1,057 90 1,147 $104,739 $112,515 $114,542 $111,924 $112,716 4,057 3,578 3,273 3,366 3,712 108,796 218 $12,916 44 $7,691 989 7,781 116,093 256 $16,162 45 $9,156 1,009 r8,303 117,815 237 $14,282 47 $9,532 1,079 r8,423 115,290 234 $16,302 52 $8,715 1,120 p8,256 el 16,429 318 $21,040 53 $10,348 1,084 e8,310 eEstim ated. pPrelim inary. rRevised. 1D ata may not add to total shown because of independent rounding. E xcludes powders--talcum (in package), face, and compact. 3Does not include im ported pyrophyllite. 4Production, plus im ports, minus exports, plus adjustm ents in Government and industry stock changes. 861 862 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1987 Legislation and Government Pro grams.--The Occupational Safety and H ealth Administration (OSHA) extended through July 21, 1988, an adm inistrative stay on its 1986 regulation governing work er exposure to the nonasbestiform varie ties of actinolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite. During the stay, OSHA continued to analyze the impact of using the asbestos, standard to regulate the nonasbestiform varieties of the m inerals.2 U.S. import duties on talc m inerals from most favored nations were crude and un ground, 0.02 cent per pound; ground, wash ed, powdered, and/or pulverized, 2.4% ad valorem; cut, sawed, or in blanks, crayons, cubes, disks, or other forms, free; and other not specifically provided for, 4.8% ad valor em. The stockpile inventories of 1,081 short tons for block or lump talc and 1,809 tons for ground talc at yearend were unchanged from those of 1986. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Talc.--U.S. m ine production of crude talc increased 3% in tonnage and decreased 8% in value. Talc and soapstone were produced at 28 mines in 10 States. M ines that oper ated in Montana, New York, Texas, and Vermont accounted for 95% of domestic talc production. Montana led all States in the tonnage and value of talc produced. The largest domestic producers of talc, listed alphabetically, are Cyprus Industrial Minerals Co.; Dal-Tile (Texas Talc Co.) Gouverneur Talc Co., a subsidiary of R. T. Vanderbilt Co. Inc.; Pfizer Inc., M inerals, Pigments and M etals Div.; Vermont Talc Co.; and Windsor M inerals Inc. Vermont Talc opened a m ine near Troy, VT, to supply talc to its flotation m ill at Johnson, VT. Cyprus completed developmental work and began mining talc from a deposit near Alpine, AL. Talc from the deposit w ill be processed at the Cyprus m ill facilities in A lp in e. Pyrophyllite.--Pyrophyllite was produc ed by four companies operating six mines in California and North Carolina. Production increased 11% over that of 1986. Table 2.--Crude talc and pyrophyllite produced in the United States, by State (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) S ta te 1986 1987 Quan tity V alue Quan tity V alue C alifornia Georgia (ta lc )------M ontana N orth C aro lin a___ Texas (talc) O ther1(talc) T o tal 64 9 W 83 283 863 1,302 1,528 61 W 1,552 6,456 21,630 31,227 W 20 386 W 255 688 1,349 W 286 12,320 W 4,380 11,799 28,785 W W ithheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included w ith "O ther." 1Includes Arkansas, New York, Oregon, Vermont, V ir ginia (1987). CONSUMPTION AND USES Apparent domestic consumption of crude and processed talc and pyrophyllite decreas ed 3%. Sales of talc and pyrophyllite decreased slightly in tonnage and increased slightly in value. End-use distribution of ground talc was ceramics, 33%; paint, 15%; paper, 14%; roofing, 12%; plastics, 8%; cosmetics, 6%; and insecticide, refractory, rubber, and oth er, 12%. The largest portion, 61%, of dom estically produced ground pyrophyllite was used in ceramics, 16% was used in refractories, 9% in insecticides, and 14% in paint, plastic, roofing, rubber, and other. A survey of the European paper industry indicated that talc consumption was ap proximately 550,000 tons per year. Over 75% of the talc consumed was used as paper filler. Slightly less than 8% was used for pitch-control and 8% was used as a coating pigment. Talc's importance as a pitch con trol agent was reduced through the use of chemical additives. The major consuming European countries were Austria, Finland, France, Italy, and Spain.3 A survey of the talc industry in Europe indicated that changes in the general econo my, overcapacities at processing plants, and loss of markets to other minerals resulted in more competition within the talc industry. Growth within the pulp and paper industry was expected to slow because of increased use of calcium carbonate as a paper filler. W ith increasing restrictions on the use of chemicals, new papermaking machines, and increased waste paper recycling, the market for talc as a pitch control agent had the greatest potential for growth. Growth within the roofing industry was not ex TALC AND PYROPHYLLTTE 863 pected because of competition from lim e stone, sand, slate, and antistick polyolefin film s, and the increasing use of single-ply roofing applications. Talc consumption by the ceramics industry was expected to in crease because of demand for earthenware, electroceramics, floor tiles, and sanitary ware. Consumption of talc by the plastics industry was expected to increase 7% to 10% because of the demand for talc-filled polypropylene.4 Table 3.--End uses for ground talc and pyrophyllite (Thousand short tons) 1986 1987 16 T alc T o tal1 Talc Pyii g lyl- Total C eram ics__________________________ _ _ Cosmetics3 -----------------------------------------In s e c tic id e s -----------------------------------------P a in t________________________________._ P a p e r,___ _________:__________ P la s tic s _______ _____:___________ ____ R efractories___ ______________ .____ ,,___ R oo fin g___ _______________________ Rubber_______ ______________ _._____ _ O ther4 ________________________________ Total1 _______ ___________ .__________ 343 46 6 168 127 69 3 106 25 90 983 64 407 3 49 13 18 2 170 __ 127 1 69 20 22 2 108 (3) 25 13 103 116 1,099 313 60 (3) 138 127 79 2 112 19 88 938 83 396 __ 60 12 12 2 140 __ 127 1 80 21 23 1 113 (3) 19 14 102 135 1,073 1D ata may not add to totals shown because of independent rounding, incom plete data. Some cosmetic talc known to be included w ith "O ther." 3Less than 1/2 unit. , in clu d es a rt sculpture, asphalt filler and coatings, crayons, floor tile, foundry facings, rice polishing, stucco, and other uses hot specified. PRICES Talc prices varied depending on the quali ty, and on the degree and method of process ing. Prices, quoted by the Engineering and M ining Journal, December 1987, per short ton of domestic ground talc, in carload lots, f.o.b. mine or m ill, including containers follow: New Jersey: M ineral pulp, bags ex tra__________ V erm ont: 98% through325m esh,bulk _ _ _ _ _ 99.99% through 325 mesh, bags: Dry processed________________ W ater beneficiated__________ New York: 96% through 200 m esh_______ ____ 98% to 99.25% through 325 mesh __ 100% through 325 mesh, fluid-energy gro u n d ____________ C alifo rn ia: S tan d ard ___ ___________________ Fractionated_______ .-----------------M icronized------------- `--------- '_____ Cosmetic s te a tite _______________ _ Georgia: 98% through 200 m esh-----------------99% through 325 mesh---------------100% through 325mesh, fluid-energy g ro u n d ------------------ $18.50-$20.50 70.00 147.00 213.00-228.00 67.00- 75.00 83.00-100.00 165.00 130.00 37.00- 71.00 150.00-220.00 44.00- 65.00 50.00 60.00 100.00 Approximate equivalents, in dollars per talc, c.i.f. m ain European ports, were as short ton, of price ranges quoted in Industri- follows: al M inerals (London), December 1987, for 864 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1987 Norwegian: Ground (ex sto re )________ Micronized (ex sto re)------------------French, fine-ground-_______________ Italian, cosmetic-grade.___ _ _____ !----Chinese, norm al (ex store): UK 200 mesh______ _____________ UK 325 mesh_____________ New York, paint, minimum 20-ton lot_ _ $162-$180 207- 288 216- 342 315 254 265 175 FOREIGN TRADE Talc exports increased 36% in tonnage to $596 per ton, averaging $66 per ton. and 29% in value. Prices ranged from $12 Table 4.--U.S. exports o f talc1 (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) Year Luxembourg `f e T Value Canada2 V alue Japan V alue 1983 _________ 1984 ___________ 1985 __________ 1986 _________ 1987 _________ 1 55 11 722 6 373 15 1,273 30 2,482 74 4,629 76 5,265 81 4,864 59 4,411 61 5,000 16 1,077 22 1,518 18 1,422 22 1,707 26 2,405 1Exdudes powders--talcum (in package), face, and compact. 2Probably includes shipm ents in tran sit through Canadian ports, inclu d es 48 countries in 1987. Data do not add to total shown because of independent rounding. Mean" V alue 86 2,805 107 3,696 108 4,492 112 4,464 149 5,614 O ther3 T o tal Value t t T Value 41 4,350 40 4,961 24 3,131 27 4,447 52 5,538 218 12,916 256 16,162 237 14,282 234 16,302 318 21,040 Table 5.--U.S. imports for consum ption o f talc, by country Country Crude and unground Q uantity Value (short (thou tons) sands) Ground, washed, powdered, or pulverized Q uantity Value (short (thou tons) sands) Cut and sawed Q uantity Value (short (thou tons) sands) Talc, n.s.p.f. V alue (thou sands) T o tal unm anufactured1 Q uantity Value (short (thou tons) sands) 1985 10,772 $1,350 33,234 $5,140 2,889 $2,097 $945 46,895 $9,532 1986: A u stralia------B razil Canada C hina Italy _ Korea, Republic of _ O ther2 Total1____ 1987: A u stralia_____ B razil Canada C h in a _______ Italy Korea, Republic of O ther3 Total1_____ 9,353 54 418 6 256 10,086 1,4_50 216 8,438 10,104 569 112 4 37,307 25 2 4 50 1,077 66 1,616 715 40,253 _87 277 38,729 24 85 917 805 777 916 40,784 39 4,949 37 240 685 5,951 42 5,362 24 252 431 6,112 750 116 485 -- 53 230 1,634 398 108 386 1,123 34 288 2,337 334 153 438 -- 26 304 1,254 151 128 288 1,090 19 341 2,017 9,353 50 862 46 37,475 237 903 5 147 3 1,130 454 2,102 795 51,973 569 423 5,152 699 44 319 1,509 8,715 12 65 275 -- 952 1,304 1,450 675 38,837 386 1,424 951 9,503 53,225 87 205 5,555 563 1,138 271 2,529 10,348 'D ata may not add to totals shown because of independent rounding, includes 17 countries, includes 21 countries. Source: Bureau of the Census. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE 865 WORLD REVIEW The United States remained the world's largest talc producer, and Japan remained the largest pyrophyllite producer. China, Japan, and the United States accounted for 46% of the world's talc and pyrophyllite production. Australia.--Thames Mining NL opened its Mount Seabrook Mine in W estern Aus tralia following completion of m ine plan ning and plant design studies. The company w ill produce cosmetic and industrial-grade talc.5 Table 6.--Talc and pyrophyllite: World production, by country1 (Short tons) C ountry2 1983 1984 1985 1986p 1987e A rgentina (talc, steatite, pyrophyllite) _ _ A ustralia A ustria (unground talc) Brazil (talc and pyrophyllite)3 B urm a Canada (shipments) (talc, pyrophyllite, soapstone) Chile C hinae Colombia S E * :::::::::::::::::::: France (ground talc) Germany, Federal Republic of (m arket able) Greece (steatite) H ungary0 India (pyrophyllite and steatite) Italy (talc and steatite) Japan4 Korea, N orthe Korea, Republic of (talc and pyrophyllite) Mexico N epal5 Norway0 Pakistan (pyrophyllite) Paraguay Peru (talc and pyrophyllite) Philippines P o rtu g al R om aniae South Africa, Republic of7 Spain (steatite) Sweden Taiwan Thailand (talc and pyrophyllite) U.S.S.R.* United Kingdom U nited States (talc and pyrophyllite)___ U ruguay Zambia Zimbabwe Total 32,729 194,644 134,623 437,025 141 106,924 702 1,050,000 7,318 4,981 351,009 315,812 15,773 2,388 18,700 389,162 175,239 1,615,791 185,000 696,810 12,161 16,825 110,000 17,588 132 5,767 968 6,018 66,000 12,337 76,574 23,210 29,821 22,209 560,000 17,600 1,066,400 755 1,447 607 7,781,190 30,629 r205,867 147,722 455,637 100 138,891 465 1,050,000 7,479 13,463 360,976 322,315 19,030 1,887 19,300 460,473 157,329 1,652,303 185,000 935,475 9,811 8,372 6124,561 17,161 165 10,183 1,022 6,838 72,000 15,886 79,628 19,712 20,591 31,393 570,000 21,000 1,127,421 1,828 405 314 r8,302,632 23,366 153,652 144,903 426,647 141 139,993 1,432 1,100,000 9,492 8,488 351,138 342,705 22,835 1,901 18,700 422,111 142,875 1,580,978 185,000 1,027,880 32,959 6,630 r 110,000 22,248 e132 551 380 3,976 72,000 15,925 97,859 15,432 19,357 47,926 570,000 22,046 1,268,750 el,700 10,504 482 8,432,094 r e27,900 207,287 146,959 463,742 62 135,584 2,488 1,100,000 20,393 9,700 313,253 347,189 24,123 e2,000 17,700 436,520 166,676 1,470,441 185,000 879,291 e22,000 9,678 rl 10,000 25,376 e132 r el,200 *1,100 4,565 72,000 14,602 81,476 2,205 23,757 43,046 570,000 13,230 1,302,179 el,700 293 879 8,255,726 27,900 193,000 143,000 468,500 66 155,000 2,200 1,100,000 20,400 9,900 364,000 346,000 23,100 2,050 16,500 457,500 166,400 1,380,000 185,000 880,000 27,500 9,900 110,000 27,500 132 1,100 1,100 4,400 72,000 14,600 88,000 2,200 22,000 44,000 580,000 13,200 1,349,440 1,700 290 880 8,310,458 eEstim ated. P relim in ary. rRevised. 1Table includes data available through May 27,1988. *In addition to the countries listed, Czechoslovakia produces talc, but available inform ation is inadequate to m ake reliable estim ates of output levels. Total of beneficiated and salable direct-shipping production of talc and pyrophyllite. 4Includes talc, pyrophyllite, and pyrophyllite clay. 5D ata based on Nepalese fiscal year beginning mid-July of year stated. 6Reported figure. in clu d es talc and wonderstone. 866 MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1987 Western Mining Corp. Ltd. assumed com plete control of Three Springs Talc Pty. Ltd. Three Springs Talc operated one of the world's largest talc mines. The talc was used in ceramics, paint, paper, and plastics.*23456 Canada.--Carey Canada Inc. discovered a large, high-grade talc deposit near East Boughton, Quebec. The deposit contains 78% to 80% talc. Mine reserves were esti mated to be 8.8 m illion tons. The company planned additional studies of the deposit to determine its commercial potential.7 C hina--A deposit estim ated to contain 18 m illion tons of pyrophyllite was discover ed in the Fujian Province.89 Korea, Republic of.--The Department of Energy and Resources discovered a talc deposit near Kongju. Reserves were esti mated to be 10 m illion tons. United Kingdom.--Shetland Talc Ltd., jointly owned by Dalriada M ineral Ven tures Ltd. and Anglo-European M inerals Ltd., continued exploratory work on a talcm agnesite deposit in the Shetland Islands. Samples were collected and tested in a pilot plant operation.10 P hysical scientist, Branch of Industrial M inerals. 2Federal Register. Occupational Safety and H ealth Ad m inistration. Occupational Exposure to Asbestos, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite. V. 52, No. 83, Apr. 30, 1987, pp. 15722-15723. 3Benbow, J: European Paper. Ind. M iner. (London), No. 243, Dec. 1987, pp. 73-89. 4Schober, W. Talc in .Europe. Ind. M iner. (London), No. 237, June 1987, pp. 40-51. 5Mining Journal (London). More Talc From Thames. V. 309, No. 7946, Dec. 4,1987, p. 458. in d u stria l M inerals (London). Three Springs Talc Takeover. No. 231, Jan. 1987, p. 9. 7Rock Products. Large Talc Deposit Found in Canada. V. 90, No. 8, Aug. 1987, p. 16. in d u stria l M inerals (London). Fujian Pyrophyllite Dis covery. No. 239, Aug. 1987, p. 83. 9 ------------- . South Korean Talc Deposits. No. 239, Aug. 1987, p. 83. 10--------. Talc Development in the Shetlands. No. 236, May 1987, p. 15.