The invention provides high surface area talc compositions by a novel hybrid milling method or soaking method. The hybrid milling method comprises dry milling talc powder followed by mixing with water and wet milling to provide a nano-talc slurry with high surface area, also of the invention. The soaking method comprises dry milling talc powder followed by mixing with water and soaking the powder for a period of time to provide high surface area nano-talc slurry, also of the invention. The slurry may be dewatered and dried to provide dry nano-talc powder. The nano-talc powder provided by the invention is a novel hydrophilic talc composition also of the invention.