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Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) or Limestone

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Limestone is a common sedimentary rock composed primarily of the calcium carbonate mineral, calcite (CaCO3). Limestone constitutes approximately 10 percent of the sedimentary rocks exposed on the earth’s surface.

Either limestone or marble may be used as the basis for crushed or ground calcium carbonate. Ground calcium carbonate, commonly referred to as GCC, is widely used as an industrial mineral. Three primary attributes: particle size, color and chemical purity define the quality of the GCC, and define the suitability of use for any given application.


Specialty Minerals Limestone Products
Specialty Minerals Inc. (SMI) manufactures crushed and ground limestone products at two of the Performance Minerals plants. At Adams, MA and Lucerne Valley, CA, high brightness limestone from adjacent SMI mines are ground into products which range in size from ½” (1.7 cm) white decorative landscaping stones to fine, 2 micron, powders. The Vicron®, Marblewhite®, Marblemix®, Marble-Pfill®, ATF™, and AFG™ GCC products are used in the whole variety of applications for limestones – building products, paints, plastics, agriculture, glass, among others. The Adams plant also produces Food Grade Vicron® GCCs for food and chewing gum.