Ground calcium carbonate(GCC) is a fine grinding carbonate powder material which is produced by mechanical pulverization with calcite, marble, and chalk stone as raw materials. It is the most consumable and widely used inorganic nonmetallic mineral powder. The development of GCC industry in China was introduced. The status of GCC industry was summarized from the aspects of varieties and structures. The properties characteristics of GCC and effect of main physical and chemical indexes on application properties were analyzed respectively. The production technologies, such as ore reduction, milling, ultrafine comminution (ultrafine milling), and surface modification, of GCC in China was reviewed. Finally, the development trend of the industry and production technology of GCC was prospected, and relative suggestions were put forward.

Ground calcium carbonate(GCC) has the features of broad raw material sources, high whiteness, low oil absorption value, good application, low price. The resin could be saved if it is applied in plastic, rubber, adhesive industry. The paper pulp could be saved and the opacity and Ink absorption will be increased if it is applied in paper industry. With the above characteristics, the development of GCC becomes the quickest in the past 20 years.

The main producing area in China is Guangdong, Guangxi, Anhui, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Henan, Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Xinjiang. In recent few years, the production and operation mode transfers from decentralized to intensive. The product variety becomes more, from the powder of 200 mesh(D95), 325 mesh(D99), 325 mesh (D99.9), 400 mesh (D99.95) in the first phase to dedicated powders of different fineness such as fine powder, micro powder, surface modified powder, superfine slurry for paper making.

Also, the product structure has changed a lot. With the development of the the relative application area and the demand of downstream industries, the main product of GCC powders changed from 74 micron and 45 micron(D97) to superfine powders and ultra-fine active powder. On one hand, the superfine powders has taken up 40% of the total GCC production. On the other hand,as high polymer matrix composite (HPMC), such as plastics, rubber, adhesive and artificial stone, has increasingly high demand of the filling property and loading of GCC, the proportion of surface modified powder or active GCC powder rises sharply in the past few years. What’s more, Since the paper makers switched from dry powder to slurry on the coating or pigment grade GCC products since 2000, the ultra-fine GCC products(D90≤2mm) used for copperplate paper, enamel paper etc. are all supplied in slurry. The slurry plant is built beside the users for convenient transportation and lower logistics costs.