Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator instructions) Your first question comes from the line of Saul Ludwig with KeyBanc.
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
Hello there. Ken, I have a couple of financial questions you could help us with. Let me just lay them out. What was the copper byproduct profit change this year? B, was there any mark-to-market inventory markdowns that impacted the advanced materials sector? And three, how much Big Hill profits came into your results in the third quarter? And what was DRC's pretax earnings on their own?
Ken Haber
Okay. Well, let me – you threw a lot there. Copper, I believe, was not material from year-over-year relative to impact on our earnings in the advanced materials. I think the – with regards to mark-to-market, it was very minimal as of the end of the third quarter, probably less than $1 million. I think we saw – a significant drop in the metal price occurred in August, and that's where our margins were affected. And you see that in our quarterly results when you look at the advanced materials operating profit in that regard. And then, as far as the DRC or the GTL operating profits for the third quarter, we recorded approximately $25 million of operating profit in our third quarter results.
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
And how’d that compare with a year ago?
Ken Haber
I think a year ago, it was probably about $16 million, $15 million – about $16 million, I believe.
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
Okay. And what was Big Hill's pretax profits on their books?
Ken Haber
Oh, there are the numbers. Oh, on the GTL – on the joint ventures itself?
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
Right.
Unidentified Company Speaker
You don’t.
Ken Haber
I don't think we break that out.
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
Yes, you've given that to us in the past.
Ken Haber
Not pretax.
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
Pretax.
Ken Haber
Yes, okay. Yes, we have because when you look at the minority interest, you can back calculate that number.
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
With the 42% tax rate?
Ken Haber
Right. I think the pretax earnings for GTL this quarter was approximately $10 million, and last year was about $5.5 million or so.
Saul Ludwig – KeyBanc
Oh, great. Thank you very much.
Ken Haber
Okay.
Operator
(Operator instructions) Your next question comes from the line of Mike Harrison with First Analysis.
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