Show TALC AND SOAPSTONE america leads the world in the production of tale talc and soapstone and yet most americans are far from appreciating how much of the joy and comfort as well as the success of life depends on the use of tale tac to smooth the rough places and lessen friction of all kinds tle the e cool and soothing toilet powder used by nearly everybody from the cradle to the grave is made of talc which also absorbs grease from silks and other fabrics bleaches cotton cloth and cleans up things generally the demand for talc is steadily growing in the united states and the production has responded the largest amount of tale talc is used irl in the manufacture of paper of many kinds from roofing to writing paper not simply to give it body and weight but to improve the quality of the paper give it a smooth finish and make it better adapted to receive printers ink the total output of talc in the united states in 1913 was tons valued at a gain of nearly 12 per cent in quantity and more than 16 per cent in value as compared with that of 1912 new york is not only the banner state in the production of tale talc but in 1913 it had the largest output of its hist history orv exceeding by 10 tons the largest previous or evious annual production with the exception of a small amount tons produced in california the entire output of tale talc in the united states comes from a comparatively narrow belt of crystalline rocks running through the atlantic states from new york to georgia vermont ranks next to new york in production and pennsylvania is third followed by north carolina which produces both tale talc and virginia massachusetts chu new jersey and georgia are next in the order of production these statements are based on a report by J S diller just issued by the united states geological survey as a part of A mineral lineral resources 1913 the report gives special attention to the recently investigated vesti gated tale talc deposit of california which is remarkable for its whiteness like the talc of new york that of southeastern california is in large measure derived from schist associated with limestone but the indications of present deve developments op ments do not justify the belief that the california deposits are as extensive either horizontally or vertically as the deposits in new york soapstone is used for making laundry tubs griddles friddles gr iddles and the like and the industry is for the most part distinct from the tale talc industry although one company in virginia produces both soapstone and tale talc four states rhode island north carolina vermont and virginia virgin a pro produce duce soapstone but virginia with six producers has an output many times as large as all the others combined the total output of soapstone in this country in 1913 was tons valued at this is a gain of tons in quantity and in va value ue over that of 1912 there are no exports or imports of soapstone but some talc is imported from canada and a small amount is exported with large supplies of tale talc and soapstone and an increasing demand the tac and soapstone industry is likely to experience continued expansion for some time to come although keen competition is greatly reducing the profits |