A mineral slurry comprises mineral particles in an amount equal to or greater than about 60 percent by total weight of the slurry, wherein 85 percent of the mineral particles have an average particle size equal to or less than 2 micrometers; a polyelectrolyte dispersant derived from an acrylate polymer formed by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, wherein the polyelectrolyte dispersant comprises endgroups comprising thio-containing residues derived from a trithiocarbonate chain transfer agent, wherein the polyelectrolyte dispersant is in an amount less than about 35 pounds of the dispersant per ton of dry mineral particles, and wherein the polyelectrolyte dispersant has a molecular weight of 3000 to 10,000 Daltons and a polydispersity of at least 1.0 and less than 1.5; and the remainder water.