As the paper industry has moved to the alkaline paper making process, this has opened the door to the use of different filler and coating minerals/chemicals - one of which is Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC). When used as a filler, it enhances major paper properties such as whiteness (brightness), opacity, and texture. In new coatings arena, PCC or blends of other coating materials allow for better finishes and the use of modern high speed printing techniques. The starting product for PCC is high quality, high calcium quicklime. Generally, quicklime is slaked with water under controlled conditions and the resultant hydroxide slurry is re-carbonated with carbon dioxide gas - again, under controlled conditions. The resulting reaction produces a very fine PCC (CaCO3) that has a very specific morphology for its intended use in filling and coating applications.