CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,018,181	$ 996,764	$ 1,032,933
Cost of goods sold	784,536	774,466	818,743
Production margin	233,645	222,298	214,190
Marketing and administrative expenses	89,231	88,485	91,212
Research and development expenses	20,053	20,173	19,330
Insurance settlement (gain)	(2,491)	0	0
Restructuring and other costs	0	0	(411)
Income from operations	126,852	113,640	104,059
Interest income	3,016	3,168	3,907
Interest expense	(3,263)	(3,221)	(3,254)
Foreign exchange losses	(2,109)	(1,348)	(1,211)
Other deductions	(786)	(1,594)	(2,040)
Non-operating deductions, net	(3,142)	(2,995)	(2,598)
Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes on income	123,710	110,645	101,461
Provision for taxes on income	34,515	31,926	28,675
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	89,195	78,719	72,786
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(5,744)	(2,450)	(2,532)
Consolidated net income	83,451	76,269	70,254
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(3,121)	(2,122)	(2,733)
Net income attributable to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	$ 80,330	$ 74,147	$ 67,521
Basic:
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.48	$ 2.17	$ 1.94
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.07)
Basic earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.31	$ 2.10	$ 1.87
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.46	$ 2.16	$ 1.93
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.07)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.30	$ 2.09	$ 1.86