Talc the mineral

Talc is the softest rock in the world.

Talc is hydrated magnesium silicate. It generally occurs in two morphologies, either macro- or microcrystalline. Talc can have slightly differing compositions subject to the associated minerals in the orebody, but all talcs exhibit to a lesser or greater extent the following unique features: softness, hydrophobicity, platyness and organophily. These properties can be further enhanced by careful and sometimes propriety processing and bring a number of specific benefits to a wide range of industries including paper, paints, plastics, ceramics, rubber, personal care and roofing.

Present annual world talc production is about 5.5 million tonnes, extracted from some 250 deposits scattered across the globe. The term 'talc' covers over 500 products, each distinct by their nature, the proportion of by-minerals they contain and by their properties.

Other minerals vying with talc vary according to the user industry: the two principal ones being carbonates and kaolin.

People always think of talc as white, but it can also be grey, green, blue, pink and even black. Basically, talc is many talcs.

• Mineralogy
• Morphology
• Geology
• Related minerals
• Properties