The aim of this study is to relate the attrition propensity of agglomerates to their mechanical behaviour, and to evaluate the influence of the particle characteristics. Three CaCO3 powders, with particles of different shapes and sizes, were agglomerated by compaction; the attrition propensity and mechanical properties of the compacted samples were measured. The attrition rate was found to obey the Johnson-Mehl equation. One of the powders exhibited a far higher attrition rate than the others. I : was found that this behaviour was related to the surface properties of the agglomerates; their mechanical properties seem to play a less substantial role.