CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 254,192	$ 247,803	$ 761,549	$ 753,719
Cost of goods sold	194,272	192,180	586,897	585,691
Production margin	59,920	55,623	174,652	168,028
Marketing and administrative expenses	21,861	21,953	66,318	66,256
Research and development expenses	5,302	5,105	14,946	15,178
Income from operations	32,757	28,565	93,388	86,594
Non-operating income (deductions), net	(1,234)	(650)	(2,572)	(2,016)
Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes	31,523	27,915	90,816	84,578
Provision for taxes on income	8,952	8,245	25,219	24,999
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, net of tax	22,571	19,670	65,597	59,579
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax	(21)	(487)	(5,704)	(1,549)
Consolidated net income	22,550	19,183	59,893	58,030
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	686	553	2,152	1,653
Net income attribute to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	$ 21,864	$ 18,630	$ 57,741	$ 56,377
Earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI	$ 0.63	$ 0.54	$ 1.82	$ 1.64
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MTI	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.04)
Basic earnings per share attributable to MTI	$ 0.63	$ 0.53	$ 1.66	$ 1.60
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI	$ 0.63	$ 0.54	$ 1.81	$ 1.63
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MTI	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.04)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to MTI	$ 0.63	$ 0.53	$ 1.65	$ 1.59
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.050	$ 0.025	$ 0.15	$ 0.075
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic	34,615	35,280	34,803	35,388
Diluted	34,881	35,466	35,054	35,550