Provided are methods for producing carbonate-containing compositions
comprising silicon-based material (e.g., pozzolanic material) from a
source of carbon dioxide, a divalent cation-containing solution, and a
source of proton-removing agents. In such methods, divalent cations of
the divalent cation-containing solution are provided by digestion of
material comprising metal silicates. Also provided are methods for
producing carbonate-containing compositions comprising little or no
silicon-based material. In such methods, silicon-based material (e.g.,
silica, unreacted or undigested silicates, aluminosilicates, etc.) may be
separated and processed separately from carbonate-containing
compositions. Silicon-based material and carbonate-containing material
may be blended at a later stage to produce a pozzolanic material, which
may be further processed and blended with, for example, Portland cement.