CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,005,619,000	$ 1,044,853,000	$ 1,002,354,000
Cost of goods sold	786,245,000	832,657,000	793,161,000
Production margin	219,374,000	212,196,000	209,193,000
Marketing and administrative expenses	89,161,000	92,058,000	90,474,000
Research and development expenses	20,172,000	19,330,000	19,577,000
Restructuring and other costs	0	470,000	865,000
Income from operations	110,041,000	100,338,000	98,277,000
Interest income	3,168,000	3,907,000	2,765,000
Interest expense	(3,221,000)	(3,254,000)	(3,336,000)
Foreign exchange gains (losses)	(1,348,000)	(1,211,000)	324,000
Other income (deductions)	(1,594,000)	(2,040,000)	819,000
Non-operating income (deductions), net	(2,995,000)	(2,598,000)	572,000
Income from operation before provision for taxes	107,046,000	97,740,000	98,849,000
Provision for taxes on income	30,777,000	27,486,000	28,963,000
Consolidated net income	76,269,000	70,254,000	69,886,000
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(2,122,000)	(2,733,000)	(3,017,000)
Net income attributable to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	$ 74,147,000	$ 67,521,000	$ 66,869,000
Basic:
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.10	$ 1.87	$ 1.80
Diluted:
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.09	$ 1.86	$ 1.79