CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Product sales	$ 1,514.9	$ 1,018.2	$ 996.8
Service revenue	210.1	0	0
Total net sales	1,725.0	1,018.2	996.8
Cost of goods sold	1,141.5	784.5	774.5
Cost of service revenue	148.1	0	0
Total cost of sales	1,289.6	784.5	774.5
Production margin	435.4	233.7	222.3
Marketing and administrative expenses	177.4	89.2	88.5
Research and development expenses	24.4	20.1	20.2
Insurance / litigation settlement (gain)	(2.3)	(2.5)	0
Amortization expense of intangible assets acquired	4.8	0	0
Acquisition related transaction and integration costs	19.1	0	0
Restructuring and other charges	43.2	0	0
Income from operations	168.8	126.9	113.6
Interest expense, net	(41.8)	(0.2)	(0.1)
Premium on early extinguishment of debt	(5.8)	0	0
Other non-operating income (deductions), net	1.8	(3.0)	(2.9)
Total non-operating deductions, net	(45.8)	(3.2)	(3.0)
Income from continuing operations before provision for taxes and equity in earnings	123.0	123.7	110.6
Provision for taxes on income	30.8	34.5	31.9
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	1.2	0	0
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	93.4	89.2	78.7
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations	2.1	(5.8)	(2.5)
Consolidated net income	95.5	83.4	76.2
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	3.1	3.1	2.1
Net income attributable to Minerals Technologies Inc. (MTI)	$ 92.4	$ 80.3	$ 74.1
Basic:
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.62	$ 2.48	$ 2.17
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ (0.17)	$ (0.07)
Basic earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.68	$ 2.31	$ 2.10
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.59	$ 2.46	$ 2.16
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ (0.16)	$ (0.07)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to MTI (in dollars per share)	$ 2.65	$ 2.30	$ 2.09
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.13
Shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	34.5	34.7	35.3
Diluted (in shares)	34.8	35.0	35.5