The Middleton facility surface-mines montmorillonite clay, a high calcium bentonite, and has two rotary kilns that have a capacity of roughly 150,000 tons. The facility uses natural gas, electricity, and sulfuric acid to process ore. With on-site milling, screening, and multiple packaging capabilities, this plant serves several different industries including agriculture, sports fields and absorbents.
Formerly the Moltan Company, EP Minerals acquired Moltan in early 2013, and the company gained the mines and processing sites in Fernley, Nevada and Middleton, Tennessee. Middleton has been in operation since the late 1970s. The Middleton facility became a part of U.S. Silica during the 2018 acquisition of EP Minerals.
The Middleton plant is located halfway between the rural communities of Middleton, TN, and Walnut, MS in the southeastern portion of Hardeman County, TN. It's located 80 miles east of Memphis, Tennessee and 60 miles south of Jackson, Tennessee.
