Industrial minerals important to Hecla

But, Hecla Mining Company’s (NYSE) experience with industrial minerals has generally been a good one. Last year the division generated revenue of $24.5 million, a 10% gain from 1987, and a few months ago Hecla added kaolin mines and plants in Georgia and South Carolina to its industrial minerals operations.

Discussing the division’s activities with The Northern Miner, Arthur Brown, Hecla’s president, noted the company was the largest ball clay producer in the United States. Ball clay is a fine-grained, plastic, white, firing clay used principally for bonding in ceramic ware.

The kaolin assets, which he emphasized have a good synergy with ball clay, were purchased from Cyprus Minerals in February for approximately $11.2 million(US). “Adding a line of kaolin products allows Hecla to improve service to its customers in the ceramics industry by offering two of the four major components needed to make ceramics,” he said.

Hecla’s policy is to take over a company while leaving the unit and its marketing capability intact. “It’s run as a subsidiary and they just send the money back,” Brown said.

Aggregates are another part of the company’s business. If you own a gas barbecue you might be using some of Hecla’s volcanic scoria. The clinker-like volcanic rock comes in different colours and is also used for decorative purposes. Last year volcanic scoria shipments were ahead 7% because of a successful marketing effort. These products are marketed by a wholly- owned subsidiary, Colorado Aggregate Company.

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