What is ground calcium carbonate (GCC)?
Ground calcium carbonate is a bright, stable, low-cost mineral filler made by grinding natural calcite. Learn how it differs from precipitated (PCC), its typical specs (CaCO3 88–98%) and where it is used.
GCC is calcium carbonate produced by physically grinding and classifying natural calcite. It is the workhorse filler of the mineral industry: bright, chemically stable and inexpensive per tonne.
Source and production
We select calcite and grind it into two families: powder for plastics, coatings, rubber and paper, and coarse calcite sand at 10, 20 and 40–80 mesh for terrazzo, artificial stone, mortar and industrial flooring.
Our calcium carbonate standard TDHX-CC-2023-07 specifies CaCO3 88–98%, moisture ≤1% and whiteness 75–97%, with D50 between 2.9 and 7.5 µm by grade.
GCC vs PCC
GCC is ground natural calcite; PCC is chemically precipitated. PCC can be made brighter and finer but costs more. For most filler applications GCC is the economical choice, and we cover the trade-offs in a dedicated comparison.
Choose GCC when cost per tonne and brightness at scale matter more than ultra-fine, engineered particle shape.
Where it is used
GCC is used as a filler and extender in plastics, as a bright pigment extender in coatings and paints, as a coating/pigment in paper, and as a functional filler in rubber, sealants and adhesives. Coarse sand goes into construction and artificial stone.
Specify by CaCO3 content, whiteness, fineness and application; we will match the grade.
Related applications
Need a custom specification?
Tell us your target mesh size, whiteness and application. We send samples and a quotation within 24 hours.