EP Minerals mines and processes diatomaceous earth, perlite and bentonite clay into filter aids, absorbents and functional additives.
EP Minerals, LLC
Reno, Nevada · Clark, Nevada · Lovelock, Nevada · Vale, Oregon · Fernley, Nevada · Middleton, Tennessee · Munster, GermanyNew on Amplifa
About EP Minerals
EP Minerals, LLC is a globally active manufacturer of processed mineral products based on diatomaceous earth (diatomite), perlite and calcium bentonite (montmorillonite clay). The products are used as filter aids, absorbents, carrier materials and functional additives, among others in food and beverage filtration (wine, beer, juices, edible oils), swimming pool filtration, biofuels, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, paints, plastics and insecticides. The company operates its own open-pit mines in Nevada, Oregon and Tennessee as well as several processing and calcining plants with a total of five calcining kiln lines and one perlite expander. The value chain extends from exploration and mining through drying, calcining and flux calcining to acid-washed and surface-treated specialty products. Since May 1, 2018, EP Minerals has been a subsidiary of U.S. Silica Company (NYSE: SLCA) headquartered in Katy, Texas. For Europe and parts of Africa, the European sales company EP Minerals Europe (EPME) in Munster, Germany, is responsible.
- Site
- Munster, Germany (EPME)
- Processes
- Mining of diatomaceous earth (Diatomaceous Earth), montmorillonite clay and perlite, Calcining and flux calcining of filter aids and functional additives (kilns), Perlite expansion (expander for filter aids and insulation), Manufacture of absorbents, soil amendments and carrier materials, Manufacture of functional additives (pigment extenders, matting agents, thickening agents,, Acid-washed filter aids (PurifiDE), surface-treated flux-calcined products, Bleaching clays / adsorbents / catalysts (Bleaching Clays, Adsorbent Technologies, Catalytic, Testing of ores and finished products in the company's own laboratory (quality and R&D team)
- Materials
- Diatomaceous Earth (diatomaceous earth/diatomite), Perlite, Calcium bentonite clay / montmorillonite clay, Cellulose (cellulose blends), Volcanic ash, Diatomaceous Earth (Diatomite, Celatom), Montmorillonite Clay (Calcium Bentonite), Cellulose Blends
- Certificates
- ISO 9001 (quality management system), REACH registration (flux-calcined products), GRAS classification (FDA) of the DE and perlite filter aids and additives, Compliance with Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), ISO 9001, FDA GRAS, Food Chemicals Codex (FCC)
- Founded
- 1843
- 01
Exploration (mapping, drilling, sample laboratory)
- 02
Open-pit mining of diatomaceous earth, perlite and montmorillonite clay
- 03
Ore stockpiling, drying and transport to the plant
- 04
Processing, calcining and flux calcining
- 05
Perlite expansion
- 06
Specialty processing (acid-washed, surface-treated)
- 07
Quality inspection of ore and finished product
- 08
Logistics and worldwide direct shipping
Mineral Raw Materials & Processes
Diatomaceous Earth (Diatomite, Celatom)
Biogenic silica from fossil diatoms, calcined or flux-calcined as filter aid, absorbent and functional additive.
Perlite
Expanded perlite for filtration of sweeteners, viscous media and swimming pool water as well as an insulating material.
Montmorillonite Clay (Calcium Bentonite)
Granulated clay for absorbents, bleaching earths, adsorbents and catalyst solutions.
Cellulose Blends
Cellulose blends as a component of Engineered Materials for industrial and consumer applications.
Sites
Reno, Nevada
USCorporate Office and administration
Clark, Nevada
USPlant for soil amendments, absorbents, carriers, natural filter aids and additives
- Materials
- Diatomaceous earth
Lovelock, Nevada
USLargest producing DE plant; calcining and flux calcining, perlite expansion since 1993
- Materials
- Diatomaceous earth, perlite
- 3 calcining kilns
- Perlite expander
Vale, Oregon
USDE plant for calcined and flux-calcined filter aids, additives and low-iron brewery grades
- Materials
- Diatomaceous earth
- 2 calcining kilns (1985/1997)
Fernley, Nevada
USAbsorbent plant and open-pit mine (since Moltan acquisition 2013)
- Materials
- Diatomaceous earth
Middleton, Tennessee
USMontmorillonite clay plant and open-pit mine with mines in Tennessee and Mississippi
- Materials
- Montmorillonite clay
Munster, Germany
DEEP Minerals Europe (EPME): Sales & Marketing, logistics, finance, administration for Europe and parts of Africa
Products
Inside the production
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mining of diatomaceous earth (Diatomaceous Earth), montmorillonite clay and perliteCasting | – | – | – | – | Diatomaceous earth (Diatomaceous Earth), Montmorillonite clay, Perlite |
| Calcining and flux calcining of filter aids and functional additives (kilns)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | Diatomaceous earth |
| Perlite expansion (expander for filter aids and insulation)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | Perlite |
| Manufacture of absorbents, soil amendments and carrier materialsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Diatomaceous earth, Montmorillonite clay |
| Manufacture of functional additives (pigment extenders, matting agents, thickening agents,Engineering | – | – | – | – | Diatomaceous earth, Perlite, Clay |
| Acid-washed filter aids (PurifiDE), surface-treated flux-calcined productsSurface | – | – | – | – | Diatomaceous earth |
| Bleaching clays / adsorbents / catalysts (Bleaching Clays, Adsorbent Technologies, CatalyticEngineering | – | – | – | – | Montmorillonite clay |
| Testing of ores and finished products in the company's own laboratory (quality and R&D team)Testing | – | – | – | – | Diatomaceous earth, Perlite, Clay |
10 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcining kiln (Kiln) | – | 3 | – | – | Lovelock, Nevada |
| Calcining kiln (Kiln) | – | 2 | – | 1985 / 199 | Vale, Oregon |
| Perlite expander | – | 1 | – | 1993 | Lovelock, Nevada |
| Excavator | – | – | – | – | Mining sites |
| Articulated haul trucks (articulated hauling trucks) | – | – | – | – | Mining sites |
| Scraper | – | – | – | – | Mining sites |
| Dozer | – | – | – | – | Mining sites |
| Wheel loader (front end loaders) | – | – | – | – | Mining sites |
| Grader (road graders) | – | – | – | – | Mining sites |
| Rotary Drilling / Core Drilling (exploration) | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality
A dedicated quality and R&D team continuously inspects incoming ores and finished products in the in-house laboratory. The quality management system is structured according to ISO 9001; filter aids and additives are FDA-GRAS classified and meet the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) requirements.
| Evidence | Munster |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |
| REACH registration (flux-calcined products) | |
| FDA GRAS | |
| Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) |
History
- 1843
Brothers Edgar and Stephen J. Conkling begin manufacturing paint pigments under the Eagle brand (company prehistory).
- 1916
Merger of Judge Oliver Picher's Lead Mining Company with the Eagle Paint Company to form Eagle-Picher Lead.
- 1945
Acquisition of diatomaceous earth deposits near Reno, Nevada (Clark); the Clark plant produces soil amendments, absorbents, carriers as well as natural filter aids and additives.
- 1959
Commissioning of the world's largest producing DE plant in Lovelock, Nevada (3 kilns).
- 1985
Commissioning of the Vale, Oregon DE plant; second kiln in 1997.
- 1993
Entry into the perlite business with the first perlite expander at the Lovelock site.
- 1994
Foundation of EPME (EP Minerals Europe) in Munster, Germany.
- 2013
Acquisition of the Moltan Company: additional mines and processing sites in Fernley (NV) and Middleton (TN); market entry in the clay segment.
- 2018
On May 1, 2018, EP Minerals acquired by U.S. Silica (SLCA), headquartered in Katy, Texas.