103 
Talc which is later to be ground is won either by open-cut 
or underground methods. Underground methods are preferable 
for the reason that the product may be more easily kept clean. 
In open-cut work during rainy weather the surface drainage 
which finds its way into the workings carries much clay and 
dirt with it, staining the talc. There is less danger of this in 
underground mining. 
From the pit the talc is sent to the mill to be prepared 
lor the market. The stained and coloured material is sorted 
from that which would produce a white product and is discarded 
°r set aside as low grade stock. 
The lump talc is first crushed, by means of jaw, or gyratory 
crushers or rolls, to about one-quarter inch size. It is then very 
finely pulverized in a buhr mill, ball or tube mill, cyclone mill, 
° r some such pulverizer. The pulverizing is carried on until 
a large percentage is reduced to 200 mesh size. The product 
is graded by size, by means of bolting, or air-floating, or a com 
bination of the two methods. 
PRICES. 
The crude unground talc is worth about $2 per ton at 
fbc mine. The finely pulverized talc varies in price, according 
to grade and quantity purchased, and also according to the point 
°f delivery, from $7 to $30 for domestic talc, and as high as $80 
Per ton for imported talc, purchased in quarter ton lots. 
- The price of talc used in paper making averages about 
TS per ton. That used for foundry purposes, usually pur- 
as ed in quarter ton lots, averages in price $22 per ton. The 
general average price for domestic talc is somewhat below $20. 
Amount of talc used in the manufacturing industries, as 
^Pwtedby the consumers:— 
Location 
Quebec" 1 ® Provinces 
Ontario.;; 
Britmi Provinces... 
___^®h^Columbia. 
(Total).... 
No. of firms 
reporting 
consumption 
Domestic 
Imported 
Tons 
Tons 
13 
« 
35M 
28 
2810M 
2334 
118 
1284? 
4861f 
10 
82 
3 
2 
50 
u 
171 
4224? 
7594