Global talc production in 2008 is estimated to have totalled 7.5m. tonnes, with 16 companies accounting for almost three quarters of this. The largest of these companies is Rio Tinto Minerals’ talc business, Luzenac Group, which is estimated to supply 25% of total talc production (IM September ’09, p.30: Talc sorted for plastics).
Luzenac operates a number of talc mines and processing facilities throughout Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. Its talc mines in Montana, USA, produce very pure talc, which is processed to make Rio Tinto Minerals’ Mistron® talc grades.
Microcrystalline Mistron®From a total world production of around 7.5m. tpa, around 500,000 tpa of talc is used as a mineral filler in polymer products. Owing to its lamellar particle shape, talc is considered to be an excellent reinforcing agent in plastics and rubber products. Although global consumption of talc is still primarily...