Abstract: A process for preparing a high brightness, low abrasion calcined kaolin. A cretaceous crude is wet beneficiated by subjecting same as an aqueous slurry to degritting, classification, magnetic separation, and scrub grinding. The slurry from the foregoing is diluted to less than 15% solids and subjected while well dispersed to a separation in a centrifuge to yield an underflow and an overflow fine fraction having less than 5% solids and a P.S.D. such that at least 85% by weight are of <0.5 .mu.m E.S.D. and at least 30% by weight are of <0.25 .mu.m E.S.D. The overflow fine fraction slurry of dispersed kaolin is subjected to a partial filtration by passing same in cross flow relation to a microporous membrane through which substantially none of the suspended kaolin particles pass, to raise the solids content of the said slurry to at least 20%.