# Talc

The softest mineral, ground into a slippery filler for plastics, paint, ceramics and paper, and now under scrutiny as a health hazard.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/

Industrial minerals · No. 65

- Not on a critical list
- HHI 1,021 · unconcentrated
 Industrial minerals · Foundation · Matter

The softest mineral stiffens car plastics, and in 2025 an EU committee recommended classing it as a presumed carcinogen.

Chart: Illustration: Talc

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Talc is a hydrous magnesium silicate, formed when hot fluids alter dolomite or serpentinite. It is mined, sorted and milled to fine powder; world output was about 6.9 Mt in 2025.

##### Three things to know

1. In July 2025 the EU risk assessment committee recommended classifying talc as a Category 1B carcinogen.
2. US talc imports from China rose about 125% in 2025, to roughly 27% of the total.
3. Talc forms when hot fluids alter magnesium-rich rocks such as dolomite or serpentinite; plate shape and freedom from asbestos set its value.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Ore body**Talc or steatite from altered rocks
2. 2 **Mining**Open pits and some underground mines
3. 3 **Sorting**Crude talc sorted and crushed
4. 4 **Milling**Ground fine, classified, sometimes floated
5. 5 **End uses**Fillers for plastics, paint, ceramics, paper
 Covered in [Colour and protection: dyes, pigments, paints and coatingsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/dyes-pigments-coatings/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/production/index.md)
- [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/stocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/talc/links/index.md)