EXHIBIT 12.1 BETTER MINERALS & AGGREGATES COMPANY RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollars in Thousands) Predecessor(a) Successor ----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- January 1 February 10 through through February 9 December 31 1995 1996 1996 1997 1998 1999 -------------------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------- ---------- Earnings - -------- Income (loss) before income taxes.......... $11,415 $517 $(3,621) $(1,961) $(16,871) $ 1,032 Fixed charges.......... 252 21 10,143 10,578 10,401 19,870 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total earnings......... $11,667 $538 $ 6,522 $ 8,617 $ (6,470) $20,902 ===================================================================================================== Fixed Charges - ------------- Interest expense....... $ 162 $13 $10,074 $10,513 $ 10,269 $19,590 Estimated interest in 90 8 69 65 132 280 rental expense........ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total fixed charges.... $ 252 $21 $10,143 $10,578 $10,401 $19,870 ===================================================================================================== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges......... 46.3 25.6 0.6(b) 0.8(b) (0.6)(b) 1.1 (a) Amounts are not comparable to subsequent periods. (b) Earnings used in computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges consist of income (loss) before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discounts, and a portion of operating lease rental expense deemed to be representative of the interest factor. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $3.6 million, $2.0 million and $16.9 million for the period from February 10, 1996 to December 31, 1996 and the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.