Document QXmz84eKEvjadoQV85qgbYo66

CAM-295 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE By Robert L. Virta 1 D omestic production of talc and pyrophyllite increased 70/0 from that of 1987. Sales of crude and processed talc and pyrophyllite increased 5% in tonnage and 6% in value. Imports for consumption increased 66% in tonnage and 19% in value. Exports increased 32% in tonnage and 38% in value. DOMESTIC DATA COVERAGE were proposed for respirable and total soapstone dust, respectively. A permissible exposure limit of 2 milligrams per cubic meter was proposed for nonas- bestiform talc.3 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continued its review of the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants. As part of this review, the EPA continued to collect data for a study of the asbestos and other mineral fiber content of mine emissions for producers of eight mineral commodities, including talc. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Talc U.S. mine produc~ion of crude talc increased 7% in tonnage and 1% in value. Talc and soapstone were produced at mines in 10 States. Mines that operated in Montana, New York, Texas, and Vermont accounted for 92% of domestic talc production. Montana led all States in the tonnage and value of talc produced. Montana Talc Co. applied for operating permits for a pro- Domestic production and sales data for talc and pyrophyllite are developed by the Bureau of Mines from a voluntary survey of U.S. mines and mills. Of the 52 mines and mills to which a survey request was sent, 32 responded, representing 62% of the U.S. production data shown in table 1. Production for the 20 nonrespondents was estimated using reported prior-year production levels adjusted by trends in employment and other guidelines. LEGISLATION AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) extended through July 21, 1989, an administrative stay on its 1986 regulation governing worker exposure to the nonasbestiform varieties 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 minerals. An exposure limit of 2 fibers per cubic centimeter will remain in effect during the stay.2 OSHA also proposed revisions to air contaminant standards. The proposed ruling establishes or modifies exposure limits for more than 300 substances, including soapstone and nonasbestiform talc. Permissible exposure limits of 6 and 3 milligrams per cubic meter TABLE 1 SALIENT TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE STATISTICS (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) 1984 1985 1986 1987 United States: Mine production, crude: Talc 1,042 1,188 1,219 '1,190 Pyrophyllite 85 81 83 92 Total1 1,127 1,269 1,302 '1,282 Value: Talc $21.755 $27,768 $29,687 '$27,265 Pyrophyllite 1,412 1,420 1,540 1,607 Total 23,167 29,188 31,227 '28,872 Sold by producers, crude and processed: Talc 1,101 1,067 1,070 '1,075 Pyrophyllite 97 81 83 90 Total 1,198 1,148 1,153 '1,165 Value: Talc $112,515 $114,542 $111,924 '$113,394 Pyrophyllite 3,578 3,273 3,366 3,712 Total 1 116,093 117,815 115,290 '117,107 Exports 2 (talc) 256 237 234 318 Value $16,162 $14,282 $16,302 $21,040 Imports for consumption 3 (talc) 45 47 52 53 Value $9,156 $9,532 $8,715 $10,348 Consumption, apparent 4 1,009 1,079 1,120 '1,017 World: Production '8,345 '8,443 8,251 P8,367 Estimated. P Preliminary. r Revised. 1 Data may not add to total shown because of independent rounding. 2Exctudes powders-talcum Qn package), face, and compact. 3 ElCCludes imported pyrop/lytl~e. 4 Production, plus imports, minus exports, plus adiustments in GOII8l'nment and industry stock changes. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK-1988 1988 1.269 107 1,3n $27,624 1,820 29,444 1,123 103 1,226 $119,460 4,188 123,648 421 $29,091 88 $12,268 1,044 88,432 947 posed mine about 12 miles southeast of Dillon, MT. The company planned to produce approximately 624,000 short tons of ore over an 8-year period.4 Cyprus Industrial Minerals Inc. completed its acquisition of Vermont Talc Co. The purchase of Vermont Talc included one mine in Windham, one mine near noy, a mill in Chester, and a flotation mill in Johnson. Cyprus Industrial Minerals indicated that pharmaceutical-, paint-, paper-, and plastic-grade talc can be produced at the Johnson site and industrial-grade talc can be produced at the Chester site.S The company also completed its acquisition of Windsor Minerals Inc., a major talc producing company in Ver- mont. Windsor Minerals owns several mines and two mills. The company produces cosmetic- and industrialgrade talc.6 TABLE 2 CRUDE TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATE (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) State Georgia (talc) Montana (talc) Texas (talc) Other 1 Total Quantity 20 '356 255 '650 ' 21,282 1987 Value 286 '11,334 4,380 '12,872 '28,872 Quantity 26 378 261 712 1,3n 'Revised. 1 Includes Alabama, Arkansas, California, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia. 2 Data do not add to total because of independent rounding. 1988 Value 260 11,309 4,466 13,409 29,444 TABLE 3 END USES FOR GROUND TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE (Thousand short tons) Pyropbylllte Pyrophyllite was produced by four companies operating six mines in California and North Carolina. Production increased 16070 over that of 1987. CONSUMPTION AND USES Apparent domestic consumption of crude and processed talc and pyrophyllite increased 3070. Sales of talc and pyrophyllite increased 5% in tonnage and 6% in value. End-use distribution of ground talc was ceramics, 34%; paint, 14070; paper, 13%; roofmg, 11 %; plastics, 10%; cosmetics, 5%; and insecticides, refractories, rubber, and other, 13%. The largest portion, 55%, of domestically produced ground pyrophyllite was used in ceramics; 14% in refractories, 7% in insecticides, and 24% in paint, plastics, roofing, rubber, and other. PRICES Talc prices varied depending on the 948 Use Ceramics Talc' 314 1987 Pyrophyllite 83 Total'l 398 Talc 343 1988 Pyrophyllite 81 Total 1 425 Cosmetici! Insecticides Paint Paper Plastics Refractories 45 (3) 141 128 88 2 12 2 1 21 45 50 12 r) 143 143 128 135 89 100 23 1 10 4 20 50 11 143 135 103 21 Roofing Rubber Other 4 104 19 122 1 r> 14 105 106 20 20 136 110 1 r> 30 106 21 140 Total 1 963 135 1,099 1,008 147 1,154 'Revised. 1 Data may not add to totals shown because of independent rounding. 2 Incomplete data. Some cosmetic talc known to be included in "Othe," 3l.ess than 1/2 un~. 'Includes art sculpture, asphalt filler and coatings, crayons, floor tile, foundry facings, rice polishing, stucco, and other unspecified uses. quality and on the degree and method of processing. The average unit values of crude talc and crude pyrophyllite were $22 and $17 per ton, respectively. The average unit values of processed talc and processed pyrophyllite were $106 and $41 per ton, respectively. Unit values for imported crude and ground talc ranged from $66 per ton to $583 per ton. The average unit value for all imported talc was $140 per ton. Unit values for exported talc ranged from $25 per ton to $498 per ton and averaged $69 per ton. Prices, quoted by the Engineering and Mining Journal, April 1988, per short ton of domestic ground talc, in carload lots, f.o.b. mine or mill, in- TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBooK-1988 cluding containers, follows: New Jersey: Mineral pulp, bags extra $18.50-$20.50 Vermont: 98% through 325 mesh, bulk 70.00 99.99% through 325 mesh, bags: Dry processed 147.00 Water beneficiated 213.00-228.00 New York: 96% through 200 mesh 67.00- 75.00 98% to 99.25% through 325 mesh 83.00-100.00 100% through 325 mesh, fluid-energy ground 165.00 California: Standard 130.00 Fractionated 37.00- 71.00 Micronized 150.00-220.00 Cosmetic steatite 44.00- 65.00 Georgia: 98% through 200 mesh 50.00 99% through 325 mesh 60.00 100% through 325 mesh, fluid-energy ground 100.00 Prices, quoted by the American Paint & Coatings Journal, December 26, 1988, in U.S. dollars per short ton for paint-grade talc in carload lots were as follows: California: Bags, mill: White, Hegman No. 3-3}2 Hegman No. 4-5 Canada: Fine micron, Hegman No. 6 Montana: Ultrafine grind, Hegman No. 6 New York: Nonfibrous, bags, mill: 98% through 325 mesh 99.6% through 325 mesh Trace retained on 325 mesh $103.00 129.00 205.00 203.00 80.00 95.00 160.00 Approximate equivalents, in dollars per short ton, of price ranges quoted in Industrial Minerals (London), Decem- ber 1988, for talc, c.Lf. main European ports, were as follows: Norwegian: Ground (ex store) Micronized (ex store) French, fine-ground Italian, cosmetic-grade Chinese, normal (ex store): UK 200 mesh UK 325 mesh New York, paint, minimum 2Q-ton lot $162-$180 207- 288 216- 342 315 254 265 175 FOREIGN TRADE Talc exports increased 32070 in tonnage and 38% in value. Mexico remained the largest importer of talc, followed by Canada, BelgiumLuxembourg, and Japan. Favorable exchange rates and slightly increased usage in Europe resulted in increased exports to Belgium. Exports to Mexico also increased in 1988. Talc imports increased 64% in tonnage and 19% in value. Australia and Canada provided 77% of all talc imports. WORLD CAPACITY The data in table 6 are annual rated capacity for mines and refineries as of December 31, 1988. Rated capacity is defined as the maximum quantity of product that can be produced in a period of time on a normally sustainable long-term operating rate, based on the physical equipment of the plant, and given acceptable routine operating procedures involving labor, energy, materials, and maintenance. Capacity includes both operating plants and plants temporarily closed that, in the judgment of the author, can be brought into production within a short period of time with minimum capital expenditure. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBooK-1988 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. Cyprus Industrial Minerals completed its acquisition of Distribuidora Malaguena de Talcos S.A. (DIMTASA). DIMTASA owned surface mines and a mill near Malaga, Spain. Cyprus Industrial Minerals will process high-value talc from Australia and the United States at the Malaga mill for the paint, paper, and plastics industries. The company will continue to sell talc from the Malaga mine to industrial markets in northern and southern Europe.7 TECHNOWGY In modernizing its mines in Italy, Talco e Grafite Val Chisone Co. increased production capabilities by changing from an overhand cut-and-fill method to an underhand horizontal slicing method with cemented backfill. To take advantage of the increased production capabilities, the company investigated electrically powered, rubbertired loaders as replacements for compressed-air-powered rocker shovels and battery-powered trains as a means of improving the efficiency of ore loadmg and transport. The change from rocker shovels and trains to rubbertired loaders resulted in greater safety for the miners, less dust because of the absence of compressed air exhaust, fewer loading maneuvers, lower noise 1evels, and a 32% reduction in the production cost per ton.8 I Physic:al scientist, Branch of Industrial Minerals. 2 Federal Register. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Exposure to Asbestos, 1iemolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite. V. 53, No. 139, July 20, 1988, pp. 27345-27346. 949 3 _ _ Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Air Contaminants. V. 53, No. 109, June 7, 1988, pp. 20960-21393. 4Montana (Butte) Standard. Talc Companies Apply for Permits Near Dillon. Jan. 23, 1988. , Rutland Herald. Vermont Talc's Assets Are Sold. Apr. 22, 1988, p. 15. 6 Cyprus Industrial Minerals News Bulletin. Cyprus Minerals Acquires U.S. and European Talc Properties. Sept. 8, 1988, p. 1. 7 Work cited in footnote 6. 8Partrucco, M., A. Rostagnotto, and O. Longo. The Use of Rubber-Tired LHD's in Fontane Talc Mine, Italy. Min. Mag., June 1988, pp. 460-465. TABLE 4 U.S. EXPORTS OF TALC 1 (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) Year BelgiumLuxembourg Quantity Value Canada 2 Quantity Value 1984 11 722 76 5,265 1985 6 373 81 4,864 1986 15 1,273 59 4,411 1987 30 2,482 61 5,000 1988 61 8,017 68 5,079 1 Excludes powderstalcum (in package), face, and compact. 2 Probably includes shipments in transit through Canadian ports. 3 Includes 43 countries in 1988. 4 Data do not add to total shown because of independent rounding. Source: Bureau of the Census. Japan Quantity 22 18 22 26 39 Value 1,518 1,422 1,707 2,405 4,549 Mexico Quantity 107 108 112 149 204 Value 3,696 4,492 4,464 5,614 6,150 Other3 Quantity 40 24 27 52 49 Value 4,961 3,131 4,447 5,538 5,296 Total Quantity 256 237 4234 318 421 Value 16,162 14,282 16,302 421,040 29,091 950 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK-1988 TABLE 5 U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF TALC, BY COUNTRY Country Crude and unground Quantity (short tons) Value (thousands) 1986 10,086 $715 1987: Australia 1,450 87 Brazil Canada China Italy 216 24 Korea, Republic of Other 2 8,438 805 Total 1 10,104 916 1988: Australia 20,122 1,468 Brazil Canada 402 36 China 9,126 599 Japan 694 95 Korea, Republic of Other 2 4,917 419 Total 35,261 2,617 1 Data may not add to totals shown because 01 independent rounding. 2 Includes 21 countries. Source: Bureau 01 the Census. Ground, washed, powdered, or pulverized Quantity (short tons) Value (thousands) 40,253 $5,951 277 38,729 85 917 777 40,784 22 543 46,305 811 1,916 1,353 50,950 42 5,362 24 252 431 6,112 2 88 6,384 330 402 473 7,679 Cut and sawed Quantity (short tons) 1,634 Value (thousands) $1,254 398 108 386 1,123 34 288 2,337 151 128 288 1,090 19 341 2,017 204 110 768 19 19 183 1,303 59 149 435 24 13 200 880 Talc n.s.p.t. Value (thousands) $795 12 65 275 952 1,304 36 40 342 66 2 604 1,090 Total unmanufactured 1 Quantity (short tons) 51,973 Value (thousands) $8,715 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 20,144 747 46,817 9,894 1,524 1,935 6,453 87,514 1,470 184 6,609 1,376 515 418 1,696 12,268 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK-I988 951 TABLE 6 WORLD TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE ANNUAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY, DECEMBER 31, 1988 (Thousand short tons) Rated capacity 1 North America: Canada 330 United States 1,500 Total 1,830 Latin America: Argentina 50 Brazil 500 Mexico 40 Other 40 Total 630 Europe: Austria 150 Finland 400 France 400 Italy 180 Norway 150 U.S.S.R. 600 Other 260 Total 2,140 Africa: Egypt 14 South Africa, Republic of 20 Other Total 35 Asia: China 1,300 India 500 Iran 35 Japan 1,800 Korea, North 200 Korea, Republic of 1,100 Other 90 Total 5,025 Oceania: Australia 250 World total 9,910 'Includes capacities of operating planls as well as planls on standby basis. 952 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK-1988 TABLE 7 TALC AND PYROPHYLLlTE: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRy 1 (Short tons) Country 2 1984 1985 1986 Argentina (talc, steatite, pyrophyllite) '25,104 '17,575 24,640 Australia (talc, chlorite, steatite, pyrophyllite) 205,867 153,652 207,294 Austria (unground talc) 147,722 144,903 146,959 Brazil (talc and pyrophyllite)3 455,637 426,647 416,736 Burma 100 141 62 Canada (shipments) (talc, pyrophyllite, soapstone) 138,891 139,993 135,584 Chile China 8 465 1,050,000 1,432 1,100,000 2,488 1,100,000 Colombia 7,479 9,492 9,935 Egypt 13,463 8,488 9,700 Finland 360,976 351,138 313,253 France (ground talc) 322,315 342,705 347,189 Germany, Federal Republic of (marketable) 19,030 22,835 24,123 Greece (steatite) 1,887 1,901 82,000 Hungary8 19,300 18,700 17,700 India (pyrophyllite and steatite) 460,473 422,111 436,520 Iran 39,022 33,951 834,200 Italy (talc and steatite) 157,329 142,875 166,676 Japan 4 1,652,303 1,580,978 1,470,441 Korea, North e 185,000 185,000 185,000 Korea, Republic of (talc and pyrophyllite) 935,475 1,027,880 879,291 Mexico Nepal s Norway 8 9,811 8,372 6124,561 32,959 6,630 110,000 26,787 9,678 110,000 Pakistan (pyrophyllite) 17,161 22,248 25,376 Paraguay8 6165 132 132 Peru (talc and pyrophyllite) 10,183 551 10,040 Philippines 1,022 380 81,100 Portugal 6,838 3,976 4,565 Romania e 72,000 72,000 72,000 South Africa, Republic of 8 15,886 15,925 14,602 Spain (steatite) '87,775 97,859 89,812 S'N9den 19,712 15,432 2,205 Taiwan 20,591 19,357 23,757 Thailand (talc and pyrophyllite) 31,393 47,926 43,046 U.S.S.R. e 570,000 570,000 570,000 United Kingdom '21,399 22,046 13,230 United States (talc and pyrophyllite) 1,127,421 1,268,750 1,302,179 Uruguay8 61,828 1,700 1,700 Zambia 405 '82,200 293 Zimbabwe 314 482 879 Total '8,344,675 '8,442,950 8,251,172 Estimated. P Preliminary. 'Revised. 1 Table includes data available through May 24, 1989. 21n addition to the coontries listed, CzechosiCNal<ia produces talc, but available information is inadequate to make reliable estimates 01 outpuIl","",s. 3lO1a1 01 beneficiated and salable direct shipping production 01 talc and pyrophytlile. Includes talc, pyrophyllile, and pyrophytlile clay. SData based on Nepalese fiscal year beginning mid-July 01 year stated. 6Reported figure. 7 Revised to zero. 8 Includes talc and v.ondersione. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK-1988 1987 P 25,585 209,196 143,255 440,924 24 155,000 1,080 1,100,000 13,147 '87,300 8364,000 '8362,440 21,809 1,661 16,500 453,239 834,200 166,138 1,429,661 185,000 939,026 19,256 3,901 110,000 827,500 132 9,370 e) 84,400 72,000 12,646 888,000 82,200 24,363 46,132 580,000 13,811 '1,281,789 1,700 284 569 8,367,238 1988 8 22,000 210,000 143,000 441,000 28 155,000 990 1,100,000 13,200 7,700 364,000 364,000 22,000 1,750 14,300 452,000 34,200 170,900 1,395,500 185,000 937,000 22,000 4,400 110,000 27,500 132 8,800 4,400 72,000 614,576 93,700 2,200 22,000 44,000 580,000 13,200 1,376,560 1,700 290 550 8,431,576 953