2526.20.00.00 - Crushed or powdered

This HTS classification, 2526.20.00.00, specifically covers natural steatite and talc that have undergone processing to be crushed or powdered. This means that the material, whether in its natural block or slab form (2526.10.00.00) or otherwise, has been reduced to a fine granular or powdery state. The key defining characteristic for this category is the physical form of the material, indicating it is no longer in solid, shaped pieces.

The distinction between this category and its sibling, 2526.10.00.00 ("Not crushed, not powdered"), is solely based on the degree of physical processing. While 2526.10.00.00 pertains to steatite and talc that are either roughly trimmed or cut into blocks or slabs, 2526.20.00.00 applies to the same minerals once they have been ground into a powder or crushed into smaller particles. This change in physical state dictates the classification under the HTS.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories within 2526.20.00.00. Therefore, classification is solely determined by whether the steatite or talc is in a crushed or powdered form. This processed material finds various applications, including as fillers, in cosmetics, and in ceramics, due to its unique physical properties.