Talc: A Mineral in Your Daily Life
Most people are familiar with the mineral talc. It can be crushed into a white powder that is widely
known as “talcum powder”. This powder has the ability to absorb moisture, absorb oils, absorb odor,
serve as a lubricant and produce an astringent effect with human skin. These properties make talcum
powder an important ingredient in many baby powders, foot powders, first aid powders and a variety of cosmetics.
A form of talc known as “soapstone” is also widely known. This soft rock is easily carved and has been
used to make ornamental and practical objects for thousands of years. It has been used to make sculptures,
bowls, countertops, sinks, hearths, pipe bowls and many other objects.
Although talcum powder and soapstone are two of the more visible uses of talc they account for a very small
fraction of talc consumption. Its hidden uses are far more common. Talc's unique properties make it an
important ingredient for making ceramics, paint, paper, roofing materials, plastics, rubber, insecticides
and many other products.
What is Talc?
Talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate mineral with a chemical composition of
Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. Although the composition of talc usually stays
close to this generalized formula, some substitution occurs. Small amounts of Al or Ti can substitute for Si;
small amounts of Fe, Mn and Al can substitute for Mg; and, very small amounts of Ca can substitute for Mg.
When large amounts of Fe substitute for Mg the mineral is known as minnesotaite. When large amounts of Al
substitute for Mg the mineral is known as pyrophyllite.
Talc is usually green, white, gray, brown or colorless. It is a translucent mineral with a pearly luster.
It is the softest known mineral and is assigned a hardness of 1 on the Mohs Hardness scale.
Talc is a monoclinic mineral with a sheet structure similar to the micas. Talc has perfect cleavage that follows planes between
the weakly bonded sheets. These sheets are held together only
by van der Waals bonds which allows them to slip past one another easily. This characteristic is responsible
for talc’s extreme softness, its greasy, soapy feel and its value as a high temperature lubricant.
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2011 Mine Production of Talc
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Country
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Thousand Metric Tons
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| United States |
615 |
| Brazil |
420 |
| China |
2,000 |
| Finland |
500 |
| France |
420 |
| India |
650 |
| Japan |
360 |
| South Korea |
700 |
| Other Countries |
1570 |
| The values above are estimates of mine productions in thousands of metric tons from the USGS Mineral Commodity Summary |
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Where is Talc Produced?
In 2011 talc production was still down in response to the world-wide economic downturn.
For most countries 2011 production was about the same as production in 2010. China, South Korea, India, United States, Finland, Brazil, France and Japan are the leading producers.
The United States is self-sufficient for most types of talc used in manufacturing.
Estimated 2011 production was 615,000 metric tons with a value of about $20 million.
Three companies in the United States account for nearly 100% of the country's production.
How Does Talc Form?
Talc is a mineral that is most often found in the metamorphic rocks of convergent plate
boundaries. It forms from at least two processes. Most large talc deposits in the United
States formed when heated waters carrying dissolved magnesium and silica reacted with dolomitic
marbles. A second process of talc formation occurred when heat and chemically active fluids
altered rocks such as dunite and serpentinite into talc.
Most of the talc deposits in the United States are in metamorphic rocks on the eastern side of the
Appalachian Mountains and in rocks metamorphosed in convergent terranes of Washington, Idaho,
Montana, California, Nevada and New Mexico. Deposits of talc are also found in Texas.
Talc Mining and Processing
Most talc in the United States is produced from an open pit mine where the rock is drilled, blasted
and partially crushed in the mining operation. The highest grade ores are produced by selective
mining and sorting operations.
Great care is taken during the mining process to avoid contaminating
the talc with other rock materials. These other materials can have an adverse effect on the
color of the product. Contamination can introduce hard particles that cause problems in applications
where talc is being used because of its softness or lubricating properties.
Partially crushed rock is taken from the mine to a mill where it is further
reduced in particle size. Impurities are sometimes removed by froth flotation or mechanical processing.
The mills produce crushed or finely-ground talc that meets customer requirements for particle size, brightness, composition
and other properties.
Uses of Talc
Most people use products made from talc every day, however, they don't realize that talc is
in the product or the special role that it plays.
Talc in Plastics
In 2011, about 26% of the talc consumed in the United States was used in the manufacturing
of plastics. It is mainly used as a filler. The platy shape of talc particles can increase
the stiffness of products such as polypropylene, vinyl, polyethylene, nylon and polyester.
It can also increase the heat resistance of these products and reduce shrinkage. Where
the plastic is extruded in the manufacturing process talc's very low hardness produces
less abrasion on equipment than harder mineral fillers.
Talc in Ceramics
In the United States in 2011, about 17% of the talc consumed was used in the manufacturing of ceramics products such as bathroom fixtures, ceramic tile,
pottery and dinnerware. When used as a filler in ceramics, talc can improve the firing characteristics
of the greenware and the strength of the finished product.
Talc in Paint
Most paints are suspensions of mineral particles in a liquid. The liquid portion of the paint facilitates
application but after the liquid evaporates the mineral particles remain on the wall. Talc is used
as an extender and filler in paints. The platy shape of talc particles improves the suspension of
solids in the can and helps the liquid paint adhere to a wall without sagging.
Powdered talc is a very bright white color. This makes talc an excellent filler in paint because it simultaneously
serves to whiten and brighten the paint. Talc's low hardness is valued because it
causes less abrasion damage on spray nozzles and other equipment when paint is applied. In 2011,
about 16% of the talc consumed in the United States was used to make paint.
Talc in Paper
Most papers are made from a pulp of organic fibers. This pulp is made from wood, rags and other
organic materials. Finely-ground mineral matter is added to the pulp to serve as a filler.
When the pulp is rolled into thin sheets the mineral matter fills spaces between the pulp fibers,
resulting in a paper with a much smoother writing surface. Talc as a mineral fillers can improve the opacity, brightness
and whiteness of the paper. Talc also can also improve the paper's ability to absorb ink. In 2011, the
paper industry consumed about 16% of the talc used in the United States.
Talc in Cosmetics and Antiperspirants
Finely ground talc is used as the powder base of many cosmetic products. The tiny platelets of a talc powder
readily adhere to the skin but can be washed off easily. Talc's softness allows it to be applied and removed
without causing skin abrasion.
Talc also has the ability to absorb oils and perspiration produced by human skin.
The ability of talc to absorb moisture, absorb odor, adhere to the skin, serve as a lubricant and produce an
astringent effect in contact with human skin make it an important ingredient in many antiperspirant.
In 2011, about 7% of the talc consumed in the United States was used to make cosmetics and antiperspirant.
Talc and asbestos occur naturally and may occur in close proximity in some metamorphic rocks. Studies published in
the 1960's and 1970's identified health concerns about the use of talc that contains asbestos in some cosmetic products.
According to the FDA, "These studies have not conclusively demonstrated such a link, or if such a link existed,
what risk factors might be involved." To address these concerns talc mining sites are now carefully selected and
ores are carefully processed to avoid the presence of asbestos in talc destined for use in the cosmetics industry.
Talc in Roofing Materials
Talc is added to the asphaltic materials used to make roofing materials to improve their weather resistance.
It is also dusted onto the surface of roll roofing and shingles to prevent sticking. In 2011, about 6% of
the talc consumed in the United States was used to manufacture roofing materials.
Dimension Stone
A rock known as "soapstone" is a massive variety of talc with varying amounts of other minerals such as
micas, chlorite, amphiboles and pyroxenes. It is a soft rock that is easy to work and that has caused it to be
used in a wide variety of dimension stone and sculpture applications. It is used for counter tops, electrical panels,
hearthstones, figurines, statuary and many other projects.
Other Uses of Talc
Ground talc is used as a lubricant in applications where high temperatures are involved. It is able to survive
at temperatures where oil-based lubricants would be destroyed.
Talc powder is used as a carrier for insecticides and fungicides. It can easily be blown through a nozzle
and readily sticks to the leaves and stems of plants. Its softness reduces wear on application equipment.
Contributor: Hobart King
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| Talc is used in a wide variety of products that we see every day. It is an important ingredient in rubber, a filler and whitener in paint, a filler and brightening agent in high quality papers and a primary ingredient in many types of cosmetics. Images © iStockphoto and (clockwise) MorePixels, Mark Wragg, Franz-W. Franzelin and High Impact Photography |
| Talc is used as a filler, coating, pigment, dusting agent and extender in plastics, ceramics, paint, paper, cosmetics, roofing, rubber and many other products. Data from the United States Geological Survey |
| Talc is a phyllosilicate mineral that cleaves into thin sheets. These sheets are held together only by van der Waals bonds which allows them to easily slip past one another. This characteristic is responsible for talc's extreme softness, its greasy to soapy feel and its value as a high-temperature lubricant. . |
| A rock known as "soapstone" is a massive variety of talc with varying amounts of other minerals such as
micas, chlorite, amphiboles and pyroxenes. It is a soft rock that is easy to work and that has caused it to be
used in a wide variety of dimension stone and sculpture applications. It is used for counter tops, electrical panels,
hearthstones, figurines, statuary and many other projects. |
| Talc is a metamorphic rock that frequently exhibits distinct foliaction. |
| Foliated talc that has a black color in massive form but cleaves into thin, flexible, inelastic and colorless sheets |
Physical Properties of Talc |
| Color |
green, white, gray, brown, colorless |
| Streak |
white to pale green |
| Luster |
pearly |
| Diaphaneity |
translucent |
| Cleavage |
perfect |
| Hardness |
1 |
| Specific Gravity |
2.7 to 2.8 |
| Distinguishing Characteristics |
feel, color, softness, cleavage |
| Crystal System |
monoclinic |
[1] Talc and Pyrophyllite: Robert L. Verta, U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2012.
[2] Talc and Pyrophyllite: Robert L. Verta, U.S. Geological Survey, 2010 Minerals Yearbook, November 2011.
[3] U.S. Talc -- Baby Powder and Much More: U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet FS-065-03, September 2000.
[4] Talc resources of the conterminous United States: Robert C. Greene, United States Geological Survey, Open-File Report OF 95-586, 1995.
[5] Talc in Cosmetics: United States Food and Drug Administration, website article, April, 2012.
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