Ontario and the mineral filler industry

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 80, No. 900, 1987

G.ROBERT GUILLET, Consulting Geologist, Woodview, Ontario

Ontario enjoys the advantage of its proximity to the large industrial market of northeastern North America. Together with Quebec and fifteen nearby U.S. states, an industrial base of more than half the total for both countries is provided by a population of 100 million. Mineral fillers such as barite, calcium carbonate, kaolin, mica, silica and talc are of major importance in the manufacture of paper, paint, plastics, rubber, vinyl tile, carpet backing, putty, caulks, sealants and adhesives. Ontario has all of these minerals, but domestic production falls short of demand in some cases, and mica and kaolin are not produced at all. This paper reviews the market and outlines the distribution of the major filler-consuming plants of northeastern North America. It also identifies the principal producers of filler minerals in the United States and Canada.

Keywords: Industrial minerals, Fillers, Extenders, Elastomer.