Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a process of manufacturing calcium carbonate-containing slurries, wherein said calcium carbonate-containing slurries are prepared by adding one or more zirconium compounds, and possibly one or more further phosphate-free additives acting as dispersing and/or grinding aid agents. An other object of the invention lies in calcium carbonate-containing slurries thus obtained, and dry calcium carbonate mineral pigments resulting from the drying of such slurries. A further object of the invention is the use of such slurries and such dry mineral pigments in paper manufacturing, plastic coatings, as fillers for plastics or for aqueous paint compositions and the like. Papers, paints and plastics containing such slurries and such dry pigments are also an object of the present invention.