Importance

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Abstract

A form of calcium carbonate having a blocky rhombohedral crystal structure and properties including a surface area of from about 3 to about 15 m.sup.2 g, an average discrete particle size of from about 0.2 to about 0.9 micron, wherein the discrete particles have an aspect ratio less than about, 2:1 and a particle size distribution such that at least about 60 weight percent of the particles have a size within 50 percent of the equivalent discrete particle spherical diameter, suitable for use as a filler material in papermaking to improve the optical properties of the resulting paper, is disclosed. An accelerated heat-aging process, including embodiments thereof which utilize hydrothermal techniques, for rapidly producing this form of calcium carbonate, and a related form of calcium carbonate having a hexagonal prismatic crystal structure and the same properties, in large quantities to meet the demand of the papermaking industry, as well as a method for using these materials in papermaking, are also disclosed.

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First Claim