CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 244,396	$ 250,513
Cost of goods sold	189,084	194,630
Production margin	55,312	55,883
Marketing and administrative expenses	21,533	22,812
Research and development expenses	5,094	4,818
Acquisition related transaction costs	5,101	0
Income from operations	23,584	28,253
Non-operating income (deductions), net	(310)	133
Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes	23,274	28,386
Provision for taxes on income	7,003	8,046
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	16,271	20,340
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	8	(736)
Consolidated net income	16,279	19,604
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	664	848
Net income attributable to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	$ 15,615	$ 18,756
Basic:
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.56
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ (0.02)
Basic earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.54
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.55
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ (0.02)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.53
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.05
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	34,420	34,996
Diluted (in shares)	34,680	35,253