Talc and Pyrophyllite
Michel Dumont
The author is with the Minerals and Metals Sector,
Natural Resources Canada.
Telephone: 613-995-2917
E-mail: mdumont@nrcan.gc.ca
I n various reviews it has been common practice to discuss
talc, soapstone, and pyrophyllite under the same general
heading. A mineralogical term distinction between talc
and soapstone associated with purity can be interpreted as
pure talc and impure talc (i.e., soapstone, a type of steatite
mineral). Steatite talc generally is found in massive, high-
purity form, while impure varieties of massive or block talc
are still commonly termed “soapstone.”
The same mineralogical term distinction applies to the
misunderstanding between pyrophyllite and montmoril-
lonite and between talc and hectorite. Talc and pyrophyl-
lite are sometimes referred to as clay minerals since, once
finely divided and combined individually with water in
proportions to make a slurry, the end product does have the
appearance of a clay-water mixture.
MINERALOGY AND GEOLOGY
Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate that, when pure, has
the formula Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 corresponding to a theor-
etical composition of 63.5% SiO2, 31.7% MgO and 4.8%
H2O. The aluminum analogue of talc is pyrophyllite.
Pyrophyllite contains the hydrous aluminum silicate with
a theoretical chemical formula of Al2Si4O10(OH)2, and in
its pure form contains 28.3% Al2O3, 66.7% SiO2 and 5.0%
H2O.
Talc is derived from the alteration (hydration) of non-
aluminous magnesium silicate rocks in an intensive meta-
morphic environment. The most common host rocks for
the formation of talc are dolomite and ultramafic rocks.
However, talc can also be found associated with mafic
igneous rocks and sedimentary rocks. The mineral occurs
as veinlets, tabular bodies, or irregular lenses.
Pyrophyllite is formed by the hydrothermal alteration of
acid igneous rocks, predominantly those that are andesitic
to rhyolitic in composition. It occurs in low- and medium-
grade metamorphic rocks rich in aluminum.
TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE DEPOSITS
IN CANADA
Talc occurrences or deposits of interest in Canada have
been recorded in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec,
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
Pyrophyllite is not as common as talc, and known commer-
cial occurrences in Canada are essentially limited to three
provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and
British Columbia.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Talc occurrences have been identified in the Baie Verte
Peninsula at Timms Brook, and in the Great Bend ultra-
mafics in the east-central part of the province 75 km south-
west of Gander.
The most important deposits of pyrophyllite occur on the
Avalon Peninsula near the small town of Foxtrap, about
18 km west of St. John’s. Three main deposits were identi-
fied: Fox Trap, Trout Pond, and Dog Pond. These deposits
occur as lenses of massive pyrophyllite associated with
pyrophyllite-sericite-quartz schists. The Trout Pond and
Dog Pond deposits are, respectively, 3 and 6 km south of
the main Fox Trap deposit. Mining of pyrophyllite in the
Fox Trap area has been carried out intermittently since
the early 1900s. The other deposits have been drilled and
sampled.
Quebec
Talc occurrences/deposits in this province are essentially
confined to the Eastern Townships region, south of the
St. Lawrence River. Occurrences are also found in the
Magog-Thetford Mines region and in various townships,
including Sutton, Potton and Bolton, all in Brome County;
Ireland, Inverness, Thetford and Leeds, all in Megantic
County; and Broughton in Beauce County.
54.2 CANADIAN MINERALS YEARBOOK, 2006
Pyrophyllite deposits occur in northwestern Quebec in
Carpentier Township in the Abitibi region, in an area 10 km
northeast of Barraute. Occurrences of pyrophyllite in the
southeastern part of the province in the counties of Brome
and Beauce, at the Stanstead, Saint-Nicholas and Saint-
Francis localities, have also been analyzed.
Ontario
Talc occurrences exist in Penhorwood Township, south of
Timmins, but also in southern and northwestern Ontario; in
Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox, Addington, and Lanark coun-
ties; and in the Sudbury and Kenora districts. The more
important occurrences are in Hastings County in Madoc,
Huntington, Elzevir and Grimsthorpe townships. Commer-
cial production of talc has been carried out in the Madoc
area for over 85 years.
Manitoba
Occurrences of talc in this province have been reported at
Iskwasum Lake and along the Grass River in the Flin Flon-
Snow Lake area of northern Manitoba.
Saskatchewan
Occurrences have been reported in the Mosher Lake area of
northeastern Saskatchewan.
British Columbia
Over 38 deposits of talc have been identified with 4 main
deposits in the southeastern end of Vancouver Island within
50 km of Victoria. The remaining occurrences are scattered
throughout the central and eastern part of the province from
the Canada-U.S. border northwesterly to the Yukon border.
Pyrophyllite occurrences have been identified in the north-
western portion of Kyuquot Sound, a large inlet on the west
coast of northern Vancouver Island. Two deposits were
reported on the north side and two on the south side of a
small peninsula between Kokshittle Arm and Easy Cove.
CANADIAN SUPPLIERS
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland Pyrophyllite Division (a division of Trin-
ity Resources & Energy Ltd.) mines pyrophyllite from an
open-pit operation near Manuels, 19 km southwest of
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The ore is
crushed, sized and hand-cobbed at the mine site to produce
a pyrophyllite-quartz product, which is shipped under the
brand name ALTIFIL to the United States where it is finely
ground for use in high-quality ceramic tiles. A minor
quantity of some lower-grade pyrophyllite is also used
in the local manufacture of joint cement, paint, and other
products.
Quebec
The ophiolite zone in the Appalachians of southwestern
Quebec (Estrie and Beauce regions) were once mined in
the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. This
ophiolite zone lies along the Baie-Verte–Brompton Line, a
regional-scale intense deformation corridor. Numerous talc
and steatite deposits associated with this zone have also
been mined in the pass. However, the only talc operation
in Quebec, located near Saint-Pierre-de-Broughton, shut
down in 2001 due to the presence of asbestos fibres in the
ore.
Nevertheless, steatite is still being extracted at the Fraser
mine near East-Broughton by Les Pierres Stéatites Inc. who
bought, in January 2000 from Luzenac Inc., the soapstone
cutting division and continues to produce quality stones
for sculptures, refractory stone for stoves, and slabs for
tombstones.
Ontario
Mining of the metamorphic deposits near Madoc in east-
ern Ontario, which dates back to 1896, is carried out by
Dynatec Corporation’s Mineral Products Division (under
the brand name of CANTAL for Canada Talc) and is now
the only North American underground talc mine. The mill-
ing operation is located in nearby Marmora, approximately
three hours northeast of Toronto. The ore ranges from 30%
to 80% talc, with dolomite, calcite, tremolite, and mica as
the major impurities. It is white to grey in colour and is
milled without beneficiation for applications in plastics and
paints. Unfortunately, Dynatec reported a loss of $8.2 mil-
lion from discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of
2006. It also reported a joint agreement whereby Sherritt
International Corporation of Toronto would acquire Dyna-
tec in a transaction valued at $1.6 billion. Of particular
interest to Sherritt is Dynatec’s 45% interest in the Amba-
tovy nickel mine under development in Madagascar. It is
not clear what will happen to Dynatec’s talc/dolomite busi-
ness that is currently being held for sale.
An altered, ultramafic deposit in Penhorwood Township
in northeastern Ontario near Timmins was developed by
open-pit mining in 1975, and a froth flotation plant was
built adjacent to the mine by Luzenac Inc., which is part of
the Luzenac Group and a market-focused global talc produ-
cer. The ore is about 45% talc, with magnesite, magnetite,
chlorite, and serpentine as the impurities. This operation is
now the major (if not the only) talc producer in Canada; it
makes products for the paper, plastics, paint, and ceramic
industries.
Thorgrimson Stone Art Inc. operates a quarry near Eagle
Lake in the Kenora area from a family quarry in western
Ontario and produces high-quality soapstone that has not
been blasted. The stone is available in sizes ranging from
two pounds to several thousand pounds and is medium to
light grey in colour, sometimes with black running through it.

MINING AND PROCESSING
Talc is obtained by either open-pit or underground mining.
Open-pit mining involves removal of overburden, blasting,
and transporting the broken ore to a mill for processing.
The production of steatite talc blocks used for sculpting
necessitates that blasting be kept to a minimum. In poorly
indurated areas, backhoes may be adequate to rip the talc
ore loose. Open-pit mining becomes uneconomical when
the waste rock-to-ore ratio becomes too large; underground
mining then becomes necessary. Room-and-pillar and
shrinkage stoping methods are used to mine talc under-
ground. Room-and-pillar mining is used on flat or gently
dipping ores where, as the orebody is mined, pillars of ore
are left in a regular pattern to support the roof of the mine.
Shrinkage stoping is used on steeply dipping orebodies
where tunnels are driven into the base of the ore; drilling
and blasting proceed upward into the orebody.
Talc milling has traditionally involved dry-processing in
uncomplicated grinding plants, but now uses sophisticated
processing operations. The new generation of talc mills
includes new grinding techniques, hydro-cycloning, sedi-
mentation, froth flotation, dry and wet magnetic separation,
centrifugal sizing, and spray drying. Grinding is required
both to prepare the ore for processing and to finish off the
final product, which usually must meet stringent particle
size demands. The processing of talc ores is complicated
by the fact that extreme white colour is a very desirable
feature. Therefore, the grinding equipment used should not
discolour the talc in any way. This generally rules out con-
ventional rod and ball milling with steel grinding media,
and requires ceramic grinding media for good grinding per-
formance. Some very sophisticated grinding facilities are
often required for final preparation of processed talc sold to
specific markets; as an example, ultrafine grinding require-
ments are met with vertical-shaft pulverizing mills and jet-
milling equipment.
Pyrophyllite is usually mined by conventional open-pit
methods (i.e., overburden removed, drilling and blasting,
ore sorted according to size). Lump pyrophyllite ore is
generally hauled to the processing plant by road trucks.
Many processing methods apply to pyrophyllite and each
operation has a processing plant layout based on individual
ore characteristics and local market requirements. Never-
theless, the principal processing methods comprise crush-
ing and screening to provide a series of size fractions.
CANADIAN SHIPMENTS,
CONSUMPTION AND TRADE1
Preliminary data (Table 1) reported by Canadian producers
for 2006 indicate talc shipments were valued at $22.3 mil-
lion, more than a $3.9 million decrease from 2005, for a
quantity of 67 809 t (a decrease of 2528 t from 2005). The
TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE 54.3
historical statistics (Table 2) demonstrate that shipments
from 1988 have declined dramatically (from 146 493 t in
1988 to 108 327 t in 1995) and stabilized afterwards in the
70 000-t range. The U.S. Geological Survey’s 2006 review
on talc and pyrophyllite shows global production for 2006
was estimated at over 8.9 Mt, led by China with 3.0 Mt,
followed by South Korea with 920 000 t and the United
States with 895 215 t.
Imports (Table 1) were estimated at $17.4 million for 2006,
a decrease of almost $0.5 million (2.7%) from 2005. The
quantity of imports also decreased (38.8%) from 134 644 t
in 2005 to 82 432 t in 2006. The bulk of imports was sup-
plied by the United States with 76 337 t (92.6%) valued at
$10.9 million (92.6%). The quantity imported (Tables 1
and 3, talc only) decreased (48.3%) from 152 465 t in 2005
to 78 763 t in 2006.
Exports (Tables 1 and 3, talc only) were valued at almost
$22.9 million for 2006, a slight increase of almost
$0.5 million from 2005; the quantity exported also
increased (52.3%) from 56 039 t in 2005 to 85 350 t in
2006. The bulk of exports was delivered to the United
States, amounting to 85 108 t (99.8%). Exports to the
United States increased by 29 248 t in 2006 (52.4%), con-
tinuing a trend from 2002.
Reported consumption of talc and pyrophyllite (Table 4)
from a Natural Resources Canada industry survey shows a
9318-t decrease (15%) from 2004 (62 228 t) to 2005
(52 910 t). The pulp and paper, and paper products sec-
tor is the most important consumer with 59.3% of all
consumption.
MARKET AND DRIVERS
CONSIDERATIONS
Talc is an extremely versatile mineral that is used primarily
in a fine-ground state. Steatite is essentially used in mas-
sive or block form. There are many industrial applications
of ground talc, although fewer than a dozen countries use
talc on a major scale.
The talc market (source: Peter W. Harben’s 4th Edition of
The Industrial Minerals HandyBook) feeds into construc-
tion (paint, plastics, roofing, ceramics), the paper industry,
and consumer durables, all of which are connected to the
Gross National Product and population growth. Major
1 Producers’ confidentiality is protected when calculating the
quantity and average unit value by aggregating the values of all
three mineral products (talc, steatite, and pyrophyllite). Since
these data vary considerably from each other, the reader should
consider that changes from year to year may sometimes reflect
variations in shipments of individual products and are not always
indicative.
54.4 CANADIAN MINERALS YEARBOOK, 2006
growth will be in developing countries where the United
Nations’ medium world population projection for 1998-
2050 is from 4.75 to 8.20 billion people. The develop-
ment of certain talc-filled plastics on a large scale relies on
construction activity and on the replacement of traditional
metal parts in automobiles. Over the past 25 years, world
paper and board output has doubled to more than 250 Mt,
split fairly evenly between North America, Europe, and
the rest of the world. The average worldwide consump-
tion of paper and board per capita is approximately 45 kg,
although this figure is composed of regional values that
range from almost 300 kg in North America and 160 kg
in the European Union (EU) down to 36 kg in non-EU
Europe, 29 kg in Latin America, 24 kg in Australasia,
and to just 7 kg for the Middle East and Africa. There is
considerable potential for growth in those regions falling
short of the average. However, talc consumption patterns
in paper are regional. In North America where kaolin and
ground and precipitated calcium carbonate (GCC/PCC) are
plentiful, talc is relatively unimportant as a paper filler and
coater (5% of the minerals used), although it is used exten-
sively for pitch control (90%), whereas in Europe talc is an
important paper coater (15%) and a filler (60%) with mod-
est use in pitch control (25%).
PRICES
Talc prices vary according to the degree of processing. In
addition, quoted prices should be used only as a guideline
because actual prices depend on the terms of the contract
between seller and buyer.
According to Industrial Minerals, international talc prices
were as follows: paint grade (20-25 micrometres [μm])
US$185-$195/t; paint grade (200 mesh), US$126/t; paint
grade (400 mesh), US$210/t; ceramic grade (200 mesh),
US$92/t; ceramic grade (325 mesh), US$115/t; plastic
grade (10-20 μm), US$200-$205/t; and cosmetic grade
(200-300 mesh), ex-work, US$190-$195/t.
According to the USGS’s 2006 review on talc, the unit
value of crude talc was estimated to be US$31/t. Most
of the talc sold in the United States was sold only after
crushing and grinding. Following sorting to remove
waste, primary crushing, and screening, the unit value
of the unmilled talc probably would be in the range of
US$50-$60/t at the mill. The average reported unit value
of processed talc was US$90/t, an increase from US$86/t
in 2005. The unit value of all U.S. crude pyrophyllite was
US$196/t in 2006, unchanged from 2005. The average
customs unit value for U.S. imports of unground talc was
US$162/t in 2006, an increase from US$148/t in 2005. The
average customs value for ground talc was US$151/t in
2006, a decline from US$176/t in 2005. The average cus-
toms value for cut or sawed talc was US$933/t, an increase
from US$876/t in 2005.
MAJOR USES AND SPECIFICATIONS
Commercial grades of both talc and pyrophyllite rarely
approach the theoretical composition of the pure mineral
because of the presence of associated minerals. Talc has
a pearly lustre, greasy feel, and may be white, pale green,
or grey in colour. Talc possesses good cleavage, is chem-
ically inert, has low thermal and electrical conductivities,
a high fusion point, and a hardness of 1.0 on the Mohs
scale. Pyrophyllite also has a pearly lustre, greasy feel, and
may be white to green, grey, or brown in colour. It also
possesses good cleavage, is chemically inert, is relatively
soft with a hardness of 1 to 2 on the Mohs scale, and has a
specific gravity of 2.84. Due to their physical properties,
talc and pyrophyllite are often used in similar applications.
Talc is found in the paint, pulp and paper, ceramic, cos-
metic, plastic, chemical, rubber, and construction products
industries, while major markets for pyrophyllite are associ-
ated with ceramics, refractories, and insecticides.
Talc in a finely ground form is used as an additive in a
wide variety of products. Ceramic-grade talc (e.g., average
particle size between 6 and 14 μm, with 90-98% of the
material passing through a 45-μm screen) is used to pro-
duce wall tile, electrical ceramics, sanitaryware, stoneware,
opaque glasses, vitreous china, other whitewear, and cata-
lytic converters. Cosmetic uses for talc encompass all
varieties of face powders and body-dusting powders.
Cosmetic-grade talc is also used in pharmaceutical prod-
ucts and medicinal tablets. The paint industry is also an
important consumer of talc, chiefly as an inert extender or
filler. Talc is used as an additive in both thermoplastics and
thermosetting materials. The chief use for talc, as a filler, is
in polypropylene. Talc is one of the few minerals used by
the plastics industry as a reinforcer. It is also used in a
variety of paper products (e.g., for filler applications, max-
imum particle size should generally not exceed 20 μm,
although 40-μm grades are also used in some applications),
including wrapping paper, writing paper, packaging paper,
and paperboard (note: as a coater, the talc particle size
must not exceed 10 μm; as a pitch-control agent, it should
be as close to 1 μm as possible). Talc also serves princi-
pally as a carrier to distribute fertilizer, insecticide, herbi-
cide, or fungicide, and to dilute these chemicals to prevent
damage from concentrated dosages. It is also used as an
anti-caking agent for dry compounds. Talc is used in the
manufacture of roofing products as both a filler and a dust-
ing agent and it is used by the rubber industry in the pro-
duction of tires, tubing, sheets, valves, flooring products,
backing for textiles, and for electric cable insulation. Low-
grade talc is used as a dusting agent for gypsum boards and
as a filler in drywall seating compounds, floor tiles, and
asphalt pipeline enamels. Low-grade talc is also used as a
refractory filler in a wide variety of core and mould cast-
ings for both nonferrous and ferrous foundry castings.

In contact refractories, pyrophyllite use (in conjunction
with zircon) in the making of ladle lining increases ladle
life significantly. Pyrophyllite is used as a grog ingredient
for kiln furniture shapes such as slabs, saggers, blocks, and
pins. It is used in the manufacture of refractory mortars,
and in the ceramics industry to manufacture floor and wall
tile, sanitaryware, crockery, and electrical porcelain. Pyro-
phyllite with a low iron content contributes to maintaining
high whiteness levels in the manufacture of white cement.
When finely ground (e.g., minus 45 μm) and quartz-free,
pyrophyllite may be substituted for talc in certain filler
applications, including rubber, plastics, paints, cosmetics,
and jointing compounds. Calcined pyrophyllite is used
in road surface aggregate in applications requiring paint
markings (e.g., pedestrian crossings). A major expanding
use for pyrophyllite is as a carrier in the insecticide indus-
try and in the manufacture of ceramic glazes.
Steatite (i.e., soapstone) is easily carved and sculptured and
has been used for centuries for interior ornamental work.
However, the material can also be used as refractory bricks
or blocks and, because of its softness and resistance to heat,
as marking crayons for metal workers.
WORLD OVERVIEW
China, South Korea, and the United States accounted for
more than half of the world’s production of 8.92 Mt in
2006, an increase from 8.84 Mt in 2005. Overall, with the
above countries (including India, Finland, France, and
Brazil), seven countries together accounted for around 83%
of total world output in 2006. Some are noted for particu-
lar talc grades (e.g., France, Italy, and Australia for the pro-
duction of cosmetic talc), while others dominate for steatite
(e.g., India, Australia, and Spain). The accuracy of individ-
ual countries’ production is severely compromised by the
intermixing of talc, steatite, and pyrophyllite statistics and
the use of the term “unspecified.”
World production has remained stable from 2003
(8.6 Mt to 8.9 Mt). The U.S. production of talc in 2006
increased to 895 000 t (valued at US$27.4 million) from
856 000 t (valued at US$24.4 million) in 2005. Although
Canada’s reported production (source: USGS) seems to
have remained the same for the last few years at 90 000 t,
ranking it in 16th place, Natural Resources Canada’s data
reports 67 900 Mt for 2006, indicating a more appropriate
ranking of 21st place.
OUTLOOK
Because talc is used in the manufacture of a myriad of
everyday products including animal feed, automobiles,
cables, sweets, ceramic tiles, chewing gum, cosmetics,
fertilizers, foundry technology, olive oil processing, paint,
paper, pharmaceuticals, plaster, plastics, printing inks,
putties, refractories, roofing, sanitaryware, tires, and, of
TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE 54.5
course, body powder, it is closely related to international
economic development.
Substitute minerals will continue to affect the talc market
since one of the major characteristics of the nonmetallic
minerals industry is that minerals with similar functions
can replace each other.
With the continuing residential and commercial construc-
tion boom, construction-related applications will probably
remain steady, as will applications in plastics used in con-
sumer products.
By far the largest markets for talc worldwide (source:
ROSKILL Ninth Edition, 2003 flyer on “The Economics
of Talc and Pyrophyllite”) lie in paper and ceramics, each
of which accounts for some 30% of the total consumption
of talc minerals. However, talc faces increasing competi-
tion in both markets as precipitated and ground calcium
carbonate take an increasing market share for paper fillers
and as the refractories industry adopts higher-performance
magnesite-carbon and dolomite-carbon products in place
of pyrophyllite. The result is that the main areas of growth
for talc in the next few years are likely to lie outside these
two end uses. Growth in talc consumption in plastics is
forecast at over 3%/y in line with the increased use of
polypropylene, especially for the automotive market where
lightweight and recyclability are important factors. The
development of very fine, compacted, sub-micrometre talc
will enhance the properties imparted to plastics and raise
the value of talc sales to the plastics industry. Growth
in talc consumption in paints is estimated at over 2%/y
in North America and Western Europe, and at 4-7%/y in
industrializing Asian and Latin American countries as the
consumption of paint per capita rises.
The future of the pyrophyllite industry worldwide (source:
Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration 7th edition
of Industrial Minerals and Rocks) depends on the con-
tinued exploration and development of new deposits and on
the development of new markets.
HEALTH AND SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT,
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Talc has not been listed as a known or suspected human
carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicity Program (NTP), the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
the American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH), or the European Community DG XI
Working Group.
All mining activities have an impact on the environment:
quarrying, driving adits, sinking shafts, creating open pits,
waste dumps and tailings ponds, grinding rock, and
operating and maintaining mining machinery.
54.6 CANADIAN MINERALS YEARBOOK, 2006

As an example of a world leader in the production of talc NOTE TO READERS

and sustainable development considerations, the company
Luzenac defines its policy on its web site at www.luzenac.
com/pdf/Sustainable_dvpt.pdf.
Notes: (1) For definitions and valuation of mineral pro-
duction, shipments and trade, please refer to Chapter 65.
(2) Information in this review was current as of June 29,
2007. (3) This and other reviews, including previous edi-
tions, are available on the Internet at www.nrcan.gc.ca/
mms/cmy/com_e.html.
The intent of this document is to provide general infor-
mation and to elicit discussion. It is not intended as a
reference, guide or suggestion to be used in trading,
investment, or other commercial activities. The author
and Natural Resources Canada make no warranty of
any kind with respect to the content and accept no
liability, either incidental, consequential, financial or
otherwise, arising from the use of this document.

TARIFFS
Canada United States EU Japan
Item No. Description MFN GPT USA Canada Conventional Rate (1) WTO (2)

25.26 Natural steatite, whether or not roughly trimmed

or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks
or slabs of a rectangular (including square)
shape; talc
2526.10 Not crushed, not powdered Free Free Free Free Free Free
2526.20 Crushed or powdered Free Free Free Free Free Free

2530.90.90.94 Mineral substances not elsewhere specified or Free Free Free Free Free Free
included: other: other: pyrophyllite

Sources: Canadian Customs Tariff, effective January 2007, Canada Border Services Agency; Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 2007; Official Journal of the
European Union (October 17, 2006 Edition); Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, 2007 .
(1) The customs duties applicable to imported goods originating in countries that are Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or with which the European
Community has concluded agreements containing the most-favoured-nation tariff clause shall be the conventional duties shown in column 3 of the Schedule of Duties. (2) WTO
rate is shown; lower tariff rates may apply circumstantially.

TABLE 1. CANADA, TALC, STEATITE AND PYROPHYLLITE, PRODUCTION AND TRADE, 2004-06
Item No. 2004 2005 2006 (p)

(tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000)

SHIPMENTS
Newfoundland and Labrador x x x x x x
Quebec x x x x x x
Ontario x 27 481 x 25 599 x 21 757
British Columbia x x x x x x

Total 81 069 28 477 70 337 26 228 67 809 22 293

EXPORTS
2526.10 Natural talc, not crushed, not powdered
United States 8 9 27 38 42 41
United Kingdom 21 4 – – – –
Australia – – 13 3 – –
New Zealand – – 16 3 – –

Total 29 13 56 44 42 41

2526.20 Natural talc, crushed or powdered

United States 66 668 26 123 55 833 22 282 85 066 22 870
Jamaica – – 90 17 91 25
Trinidad and Tobago – – – – 135 9
Germany 5 2 – – 12 2
Spain – – – – 3 1
Ireland – – – – 1 ...
Malta .. ... 1 ... – –
China – – 59 11 – –

Total 66 673 26 125 55 983 22 310 85 308 22 907

Total exports 66 702 26 138 56 039 22 354 85 350 22 948

 TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE 54.7

TABLE 1 (cont'd)
Item No. 2004 2005 2006 (p)

(tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000) (tonnes) ($000)

IMPORTS
2526.10.00.10 Natural steatite, not crushed, not powdered
Brazil 310 170 469 274 774 454
United States 161 108 205 151 105 64
India 40 21 64 48 59 42
China 24 10 23 12 .. 1
Denmark 12 4 16 11 .. ...
Canada – – .. ... .. ...
Germany – – .. ... .. ...
Eritrea – – 15 9 – –

Total 547 313 792 505 938 561

2526.10.00.20 Talc, not crushed, not powdered

United States 1 828 348 1 002 215 1 010 198
Brazil 69 15 89 30 18 7
Hong Kong 13 5 28 12 7 3
China 13 1 11 3 .. 1
South Korea – – – – 1 ...
Denmark – – 1 ... – –

Total 1 923 369 1 131 260 1 036 209

2526.20.00.10 Talc of a particle size not exceeding

20 microns, crushed or powdered
United States 68 293 5 496 20 225 4 901 18 519 5 023
China 3 023 455 37 881 532 643 402
France 47 26 27 1 34 19
Italy – – – – 12 4
Japan 206 4 20 5 1 3
Canada – – – – 1 1
India – – – – 2 1
Germany ... ... 15 4 .. ...
United Kingdom 1 ... 1 ... .. ...
South Africa – – – – ... ...
Austria .. ... ... ... – –
Sweden 13 7 – – – –
Switzerland 1 ... – – – –

Total 71 584 5 988 58 169 5 443 19 212 5 453

2526.20.00.90 Other natural talc, crushed or powdered

United States 81 363 11 671 71 140 10 942 56 703 10 280
France 1 225 466 1 535 592 1 339 493
Japan 2 302 54 330 57 360 76
Germany 12 1 4 1 29 39
China 7 2 50 4 45 17
Spain 1 ... – – 15 16
Italy – – 94 18 1 15
United Kingdom 2 ... 7 16 10 7
South Korea – – – – 2 6
Canada .. ... 1 ... 9 ...
India 125 41 ... ... .. ...
Hong Kong 1 5 2 ... – –
Netherlands ... ... 1 ... – –
Sweden ... ... – – – –
U.S. Minor Outlying Islands 20 6 – – – –
Austria – – 2 1 – –
Morocco – – .. ... – –

Total 85 058 12 246 73 166 11 631 58 513 10 949

2530.90.90.94 Other: pyrophyllite

United States 1 481 116 1 386 91 2 733 270

Total imports 160 593 19 032 134 644 17 930 82 432 17 442

Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics Canada.

– Nil; . . Not available; . . . Amount too small to be expressed; (p) Preliminary; x Confidential.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.
54.8 CANADIAN MINERALS YEARBOOK, 2006

TABLE 2. CANADA, TALC, TABLE 3. CANADA, TALC IMPORTS

STEATITE AND PYROPHYLLITE AND EXPORTS, HISTORICAL, 1988-2006
SHIPMENTS, HISTORICAL,
Exports to the
1988-2006 Year Imports (1) United States (2)
Year Tonnes (tonnes)

1988 179 343 44 501

1988 146 493
1989 48 018 42 814
1989 144 828
1990 43 739 39 808
1990 130 861
1991 44 095 33 728
1991 114 898
1992 46 704 31 643
1992 113 270
1993 47 272 27 972
1993 110 730
1994 52 161 31 262
1994 126 014
1995 50 323 25 509
1995 108 327
1996 57 560 25 631
1996 77 016
1997 53 826 26 110
1997 72 444
1998 45 899 29 657
1998 72 095
1999 56 205 44 320
1999 79 493
2000 60 362 58 274
2000 84 945
2001 67 130 45 291
2001 45 086
2002 85 268 68 920
2002 83 044
2003 73 146 66 899
2003 81 999
2004 158 566 66 676
2004 81 069
2005 132 465 55 860
2005 70 337
2006 (p) 78 763 85 108
2006 (p) 67 809

Sources: Natural Resources Canada; Statistics

Sources: Natural Resources Canada;
Canada.
Statistics Canada.
(p) Preliminary.
(p) Preliminary.
(1) Data include HS Codes 2526.10.00.20,
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to
2526.20.00.10 and 2526.20.00.90. (2) Data include
rounding.
HS Codes 2526.10.00 and 2526.20.00.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.

TABLE 4. REPORTED USE OF TALC AND PYROPHYLLITE, BY INDUSTRY, 2001-05

2001 2002 2003 2004 (r) 2005 (p)

(tonnes)

REPORTED USE (1) (GROUND

TALC, AVAILABLE DATA)

Pulp and paper, paper products 36 408 39 739 35 356 33 944 31 385
Asphalt roofing products 29 748 5 640 18 159 13 849 x
Paint and varnish 5 663 6 158 6 079 6 086 5 152
Ceramic products 3 471 1 963 3 757 2 416 x
Rubber products 1 727 2 121 1 229 1 993 2 187
Other products 3 814 2 645 13 226 3 940 3 606

Total 80 831 58 266 77 806 62 228 52 910

Source: Natural Resources Canada.

x Confidential.
(1) Reported from NRCan survey on the consumption of nonmetallic minerals by Canadian manufacturing plants.
Note: Numbers may not add to totals due to rounding.