1. A PROCESS FOR TREATING DRY, SOLID ALKALI METAL CARBONATE PARTICLES TO DECREASE THEIR TENDENCY TO FORM COHESIVE MASSES WHICH COMPRISES THE STEP OF CONTACTING A MASS OF SAID PARTICLES OF A PARTICLE SIZE NOT IN EXCESS OF 12 MESH, NOT MORE THAN 5% OF SAID PARTICLES EXCEEDING 20 MESH, WITH AT LEAST 15% OF SAID PARTICLES OF A PARTICLE SIZE NOT IN EXCESS OF 200 MESH, WITH A GAS COMPRISING CARBON DIOXIDE, NOT MORE THAN 5% OF SAID GAS BEING WATER VAPOR, THE REMAINING CONSTITUENTS OF WHICH GAS ARE CHEMICALLY INERT WITH RESPECT TO THE ALKALI METAL CARBONATE, SAID CONTACT BEING AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW THAT AT WHICH CALCINATION OF SAID ALKALI METAL CARBONATE OCCURS.