2009 Montana Mining - Montana Mining Association

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Barretts Minerals Inc. uses an ancient resource for modern applications Early Native Americans discovered talc, commonly called soapstone, in the Ruby Mountains of what is now southwest Montana. Local tribes mined it for their own use, including trading with other tribes; and, the Lewis and Clark journals even mention smoking a peace pipe made from this easily carved rock when they navigated the waters of the Beaverhead River in 1805 and camped by Rattlesnake Cliffs. The talc mining tradition in the Ruby Mountains started by the early Native Americans is still carried on today, at Barretts Minerals Inc. (BMI), which extracts the talc from two mines in the Ruby Mountain Range and processes it along the banks of the Beaverhead River south of Dillon, Montana. Although artists still produce carvings from this talc, it is now also used in many industrial and consumer applications such as paints, plastics, ceramics and health-care products. Though talc (Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide) is the world’s softest mineral, it has very little chemical reactivity – it is practically insoluble in water, weak acids or alkalis, and has a melting point of 1,500o C. These char- 52 Montana Mining 2009 acteristics make the mineral ideal for ceramic applications, such as the substrate used to encase precious metals like the platinum in catalytic converters, which reduce automobile pollution; indeed, a good portion of the talc mined at Barretts Minerals is sold for this purpose. “The catalytic converters of the majority of automobiles manufactured in North America – and a great deal of those worldwide – contain talc from the Treasure and Regal Mines. So most of the people in this country are driving around with talc from our mines,” says Jim Daley, plant manager at Barretts. The mineral is also an excellent filler and extender; used in paints to improve coverage, in plastics for reinforcement, and for use in what is known as an “antiblock” to reduce static cling in plastics wraps and bags, it is also utilized in various products such as body powder, and as a coating on tablets and chewing gum. Since the Montana talc has a platy structure it does not have the health risks associated with other minerals that could be used for these applications. Electron Micrograph scan showing the platy structure of BMI talc.
History In 1954, Tri-State Minerals opened a talc plant eight miles south of Dillon near Rattlesnake Cliffs. The plant processed ore from small mines nearby. In 1960, the Treasure Mine began delivering ore to the Barretts plant. In 1966, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. purchased the operation and in 1992, Pfizer spun off its minerals business into Minerals Technologies Inc., BMI’s parent company. In the early 1950s, the underground mining was abandoned at the Keystone Mine and changed to a surface mining operation called the Regal Mine, also delivering talc to the processing facility. Production was sporadic at the Regal Mine until the mid-1990s. Both are open pit mines that require removing large amounts of overburden covering the talc; once the talc is mined it is sorted by color and chemical properties. At the plant, the talc is either ground to customer specifications or beneficiated before grinding to improve chemical purity, and then packaged for delivery to customers around the world. “We are very proud of our service to customers, which is a primary focus for Barretts Minerals,” says Kevin Porterfield, BMI’s general manager. “We are also very proud of our record of community service and environmental stewardship. The company is a major contributor to the local United Way and the annual Dillon Elementary Birch Creek educational experience, as well as many other commu- Ingenuity Our electric mining shovels have the most advanced technology available today. Through an ingenious combination of superior digging force and rapid cycle times, it offers the extreme levels of productivity and cost-effectiveness that our global customers demand. www.bucyrus.com Mining Technology Electric Mining Shovels Reliability at work View of Rattlesnake Cliffs from BMI. nity activities.” The company has also received recognition for its reclamation of mine lands and for restoration of the Stone Creek fishery containing native West Slope Cutthroat Trout. Barretts Minerals’ employees take the company goal to “increase shareholder value while being a responsible, ethical member of the communities in which we operate” very seriously. � Glacier HR Services, Inc. Developing Leaders for Peak Performance Successful companies and organizations have learned to make the most of human strengths. Let us transform your employees into your most strategic business asset! 25 YEARS OF PROVEN RESULTS IN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT Glacier HR Services, Inc is a consulting business based in Polson, Montana. Our President, Bob Marsenich, has been a management consultant for over 25 years and has worked with all levels of employees in a variety of settings. We use a uniquely designed individual coaching and process improvement program to increase results. Our manufacturing clients typically see significant increases in production in a short period of time. This coaching program includes one on one, on-site and telephone coaching sessions, interviews and other 360 degree feedback processes. The coaching happens in the real environment with real situations and action plans are developed that measure results. Contact us today to see how we can design a program specific to your mining needs! Glacier HR Services, Inc. P.O. Box 912 | Polson, Montana 59860 | P. 406.887.9947 | E. bob@glacierhr.com www.GlacierHR.com Montana Mining Association www.montanamining.org 53
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2009 Montana Mining - Montana Mining Association

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