Document jgrmJ1Z4NVb3Byw0GQyZrvb6R

^ u n t!f p ^ ______________________________________________________________________________ ____________________ E X H IB IT CAM-295 Talc and P yrophyllite By Robert L. Virta1 D omestic production o f talc and pyrophyllite increased 7% from that o f 1987. Sales o f crude and processed talc were proposed for respirable and total soapstone dust, respectively. A permis sible exposure limit o f 2 milligrams per cubic meter was proposed for nonas and pyrophyllite increased 5%biensttiofonrm talc.3 nage and 6% in value. Imports for The Environmental Protection consum ption increased 66% in tonnage Agency (EPA) continued its review o f and 19% in value. Exports increased the national em ission standards for 32% in tonnage and 38% in value. hazardous air pollutants. As part o f this review, the EPA continued to col lect data for a study o f the asbestos and DOMESTIC DATA COVERAGE other mineral fiber content o f mine em issions for producers o f eight min eral com modities, including talc. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Talc U.S. mine production o f crude talc increased 7% in tonnage and 1% in value. Talc and soapstone were pro duced at mines in 10 States. Mines that operated in M ontana, New York, Texas, and Vermont accounted for 92% o f dom estic talc production. M ontana led all States in the tonnage and value o f talc produced. M ontana Talc Co. applied for operating permits for a pro- Dom estic production and sales data for talc and pyrophyllite are developed by the Bureau o f Mines from a volun tary survey o f U.S. mines and mills. O f the 52 mines and mills to which a survey request was sent, 32 responded, representing 62% o f the U.S. produc tion data shown in table 1. Production for the 20 nonrespondents was esti mated using reported prior-year pro duction 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 o f actinolite, anthophyllite, and tremolite. During the stay, OSHA con tinued to analyze the impact o f using the asbestos standard to regulate the nonas bestiform varieties o f the minerals. An exposure limit o f 2 fibers per cubic cen timeter will remain in effect during the stay.2 OSHA also proposed revisions to air contaminant standards. The proposed ruling establishes or m odifies exposure lim its for more than 300 substances, including soapstone and nonasbesti form talc. Permissible exposure limits o f 6 and 3 milligrams per cubic meter TABLE 1 SALIENT TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE STATISTICS (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) United States: Mine production, crude: Talc Pyrophyllite Total1 Value: Talc Pyrophyllite Total 1984 1985 1986 1987 1,042 85 1,127 1,188 81 1,269 1,219 83 1,302 r 1,190 92 r1,282 $21,755 1,412 23,167 $27,768 1,420 29,188 $29,687 1,540 31,227 r$27,265 1,607 r28,872 Sold by producers, crude and processed: Talc Pyrophyllite Total Value: Talc Pyrophyllite Total1 Exports2 (talc) Value Imports for consumption3 (talc) Value Consumption, apparent4 World: Production 1,101 97 1,198 $112,515 3,578 116,093 256 $16,162 45 $9,156 1,009 r8,345 1,067 81 1,148 $114,542 3,273 117,815 237 $14,282 47 $9,532 1,079 r8,443 1,070 83 1,153 $111,924 3,366 115,290 234 $16,302 52 $8,715 1,120 8,251 r 1,075 90 r1,165 r$113,394 3,712 '117,107 318 $21,040 53 $10,348 r 1,017 p8,367 e Estimated. p Preliminary. r Revised. 1 Data may not add to total shown because of independent rounding. E x c lu d e s powders-talcum (in package), face, and compact. 3 Excludes imported pyrophyllite. 4 Production, plus imports, minus exports, plus adjustments in Government and industry stock changes. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK--1988 1988 1,269 107 1,377 $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 8,432 947 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. com pleted its acquisition of Vermont Talc Co. The purchase of Vermont Talc in cluded one mine in Windham, one mine near Troy, a mill in Chester, and a flota tion 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.5 The company also completed its ac quisition of Windsor Minerals Inc., a m ajor talc producing company in Ver mont. Windsor Minerals owns several mines and two mills. The company produces cosmetic- and industrial grade 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) Other1 Total Quantity 20 r356 255 r650 r *1,282 1987 Value 286 r11,334 4,380 r 12,872 r28,872 Quantity 26 378 261 712 1,377 r Revised. 1 1ncludes Alabama, Arkansas, California, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia. 2 Data d o 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) Pyrophyllite Pyrophyllite was produced by four companies operating six mines in Cali fornia and North Carolina. Production increased 16Vo over that of 1987. CONSUMPTION AND USES Apparent domestic consumption of crude and processed talc and pyrophyl lite increased 3%. Sales of talc and pyrophyllite increased 5% in tonnage and 6% in value. End-use distribution of ground talc was ceramics, 34Vo; paint, 14Vo; paper, 13Vo; roofing, 11Vo; plastics, lOVo; cos metics, 5Vo; and insecticides, refracto ries, rubber, and other, 13Vo. The largest portion, 55Vo, of domestically produced ground pyrophyllite was used in ceram ics; 14Vo in refractories, 7Vo in insecti cides, and 24Vo in paint, plastics, roof ing, rubber, and other. PRICES Talc prices varied depending on the 948 Use Ceramics Talcr 314 1987 Pyrophyllite 83 Totalr1 398 Talc 343 1988 Pyrophyllite 81 Total1 425 Cosmetics2 Insecticides Paint 45 0 141 -- 12 2 45 50 12 0 143 143 -- 10 -- 50 11 143 Paper 128 -- 128 135 -- 135 Plastics Refractories 88 2 1 21 89 100 23 1 4 20 103 21 Roofing 104 1 105 106 1 106 Rubber Other4 19 122 0 14 20 20 136 110 30 21 140 Total1 963 135 1,099 1,008 147 1,154 r Revised. 1 Data m ay not add to totals shown because of independent rounding. 2 Incomplete data. Some cosmetic talc known to be included in "Other." 3 Less than 1/2 unit. 4 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 eluding 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 12*/ Hegman No. 4 -5 Canada: Fine micron, Hegman No. 6 Montana: Ultrafine grind, Hegman No 6 New\brk: 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), Decern- ber 1988, for talc, c.i.f. 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 20-ton lot $162-$180 207- 288 216- 342 315 254 265 175 FOREIGN TRADE Talc exports increased 32% in ton nage and 38% in value. Mexico re mained the largest importer of talc, followed by Canada, BelgiumLuxembourg, and Japan. Favorable ex change rates and slightly increased us age 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 sustain able long-term operating rate, based on the physical equipment of the plant, and given acceptable routine operating procedures involving labor, energy, ma terials, and maintenance. Capacity in cludes both operating plants and plants temporarily closed that, in the judgment of the author, can be brought into pro duction within a short period of time with minimum capital expenditure. WORLD REVIEW The United States remained the world's largest talc producer, and Japan remained the largest pyrophyllite pro ducer. 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 Mala guea de Talcos S.A. (DIMTASA). DIMTASA owned surface mines and a mill near Mlaga, Spain. Cyprus Indus trial Minerals will process high-value talc from Australia and the United States at the Mlaga 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 TECHNOLOGY In modernizing its mines in Italy, Talco e Grafite Val Chisone Co. in creased 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 pro duction capabilities, the company in vestigated 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 load ing 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 levels, and a 32% reduction in the production cost per ton.8 1Physical scientist, Branch of Industrial Minerals. 2Federal Register. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Exposure to Asbestos, TYemolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite. V. 53, No. 139, July 20, 1988, pp. 27345-27346. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK--1988 949 3--------. Occupational Safety and Health Administra tion. Air Contaminants. V. 53, No. 109, June 7, 1988, pp. 20960-21393. 4M ontana (Butte) Standard. Talc Companies Apply for Permits Near Dillon. Jan. 23, 1988. 5Rutland Herald. Vermont Talc's Assets Are Sold. Apr. 22, 1988, p. 15. 6Cyprus Industrial Minerals News Bulletin. Cyprus Minerals Acquires U.S. and European Talc Properties. Sept. 8, 1988, p. 1. 7Work cited in footnote 6. 8Partrucco, M ., A. Rostagnotto, and G. 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 TALC1 (Thousand short tons and thousand dollars) Year 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 BelgiumLuxembourg Quan tity Value 11 722 6 373 15 1,273 30 2,482 61 8,017 Canada2 Quan tity 76 81 59 61 68 Value 5,265 4,864 4,411 5,000 5,079 1 Excludes powders-talcum (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 Quan tity 22 18 22 26 39 Value 1,518 1,422 1,707 2,405 4,549 Mexico Quan tity 107 108 112 149 204 Value 3,696 4,492 4,464 5,614 6,150 Other3 Quan tity 40 24 27 52 49 Value 4,961 3,131 4,447 5,538 5,296 Total Quan tity 256 237 4234 318 421 Value 16,162 14,282 16,302 421,040 29,091 9 5 0 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK--1988 TABLE 5 U.S. IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF TALC, BY COUNTRY Country 1986 1987: Australia Brazil Canada China Italy Korea, Republic of Other2 Total1 1988: Australia Brazil Canada China Japan Korea, Republic of Other2 Total Crude and unground Quantity (short tons) 10,086 Value (thou sands) $715 1,450 -- -- -- 216 -- 8,438 10,104 87 -- -- -- 24 -- 805 916 20,122 -- 402 9,126 694 -- 4,917 35,261 1,468 -- 36 599 95 -- 419 2,617 1 Data may not add to totals shown because of independent rounding. 2 Includes 21 countries. Source: Bureau of the Census. Ground, washed, powdered, or pulverized Quantity (short tons) Value (thou sands) 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 (thou sands) $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.f. Value (thou sands) $795 -- 12 65 275 -- -- 952 1,304 -- 36 40 342 66 2 604 1,090 Total unmanufactured1 Quantity (short tons) 51,973 Value (thou sands) $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--1988 951 TABLE 6 WORLD TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE ANNUAL PRODUCTION CAPACITY, DECEMBER 31, 1988 (Thousand short tons) Rated capacity1 North America: Canada 330 United States 1,500 Total 1,830 Latin America: Argentina 50 Brazil 500 Mexico 40 Other Total 40 630 Europe: Austria 150 Finland 400 France 400 Italy 180 Norway 150 U.S.S.R. 600 Other Total 260 2,140 Africa: Egypt South Africa, Republic of Other 14 20 1 Total 35 Asia: China 1,300 India 500 Iran 35 Japan 1,800 Korea, North 200 Korea, Republic of 1,100 Other Total 90 5,025 Oceania: Australia World total 250 9,910 1 Includes capacities of operating plants as well as plants on standby basis. 952 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK--1988 TABLE 7 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY1 (Short tons) Country2 1984 1985 1986 Argentina (talc, steatite, pyrophyllite) r25,104 r17,575 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 465 1,432 2,488 China 1,050,000 1,100,000 1,100,000 Colombia 7,479 9,492 9,935 Egypt Finland 13,463 360,976 8,488 351,138 9,700 313,253 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 e2,000 Hungary 19,300 18,700 17,700 India (pyrophyllite and steatite) 460,473 422,111 436,520 Iran 39,022 33,951 34,200 Italy (talc and steatite) 157,329 142,875 166,676 Japan4 1,652,303 1,580,978 1,470,441 Korea, North 185,000 185,000 185,000 Korea, Republic of (talc and pyrophyllite) 935,475 1,027,880 879,291 Mexico 9,811 32,959 26,787 Nepal5 8,372 6,630 9,678 Norway 6124,561 110,000 110,000 Pakistan (pyrophyllite) 17,161 22,248 25,376 IO CO T-- (0 Paraguay 132 132 Peru (talc and pyrophyllite) 10,183 551 10,040 Philippines 1,022 380 e1,100 Portugal 6,838 3,976 4,565 Romania 72,000 72,000 72,000 South Africa, Republic of8 15,886 15,925 14,602 Spain (steatite) r87,775 97,859 89,812 Sweden 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. 570,000 570,000 570,000 United Kingdom r21,399 22,046 13,230 United States (talc and pyrophyllite) 1,127,421 1,268,750 1,302,179 Uruguay 6 1,828 1,700 1,700 Zambia 405 r e2,200 293 Zimbabwe Total 314 r8,344,675 482 r8,442,950 879 8,251,172 Estimated. p Preliminary. r Revised. 1Table includes data available through M ay 2 4 ,1 9 8 9 . 2 In addition to the countries listed, Czechoslovakia produces talc, but available information is inadequate to m ake reliable estimates of output levels. 3 Total of beneficiated and salable direct shipping production of talc and pyrophyllite. 4 Includes talc, pyrophyllite, and pyrophyllite day. 5 Data based on Nepalese fiscal year beginning mid-July of year stated. 6 Reported figure. 7 Revised to zero. 8 Indudes talc and wonderstone. TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE MINERALS YEARBOOK--1988 1987p 25,585 209,196 143,255 440,924 24 155,000 1,080 1,100,000 13,147 r7,300 *364,000 r *362,440 21,809 1,661 16,500 453,239 34,200 166,138 1,429,661 185,000 939,026 19,256 3,901 110,000 27,500 132 9,370 o 4,400 72,000 12,646 88,000 2,200 24,363 46,132 580,000 13,811 r1,281,789 1,700 284 569 8,367,238 1988 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 6 14,576 93,700 2,200 22,000 44,000 580,000 13,200 1,376,560 1,700 290 550 8,431,576 953 ! ! I ! I ! ! I ! ! I I ! ! I ! I ! ! ! ! ! I I ! ! ! ! ! I !