The alkaline-earth metal -nickel, aluminium, chromiumII1, ironIII, silicyl, titanyl and zirconyl hydroxide, carbonate and oxalate coprecipitates are the precursors for the preparation of t h e corresponding alkaline-earth metal oxyanion salt refractories, magnetics, dielectric and optical ceramics, cements and allied materials. The small-scale laboratory studies on the coprecipitations of these precursor materials, their compositions and the coprecipitation mechanisms are reviewed and the relevant industrial patents are described (140 references).