An in situ produced gel/precipitate silica composite and method of producing the same are disclosed. The in situ produced gel/precipitate silica composite comprises from 10 to 60% by volume of silica gel, wherein said composite exhibits a linseed oil absorption of greater than 100 up to 150 ml/100g, and wherein said composite exhibits a 10% Brass Einlehner hardness value in the range between 2.5 and 12 mg loss/100,000 revolutions. The method involves the steps of: (a) admixing a sufficient amount of an alkali silicate having a concentration of from 4 to 35% within an aqueous solution thereof and an acidulating agent having an acid concentration within an aqueous solution from 5 to 25% together at a temperature from 40 to 90°C and under agitation to form a silica gel composition and, without first washing, modifying, or purifying said formed silica gel composition, (b) subsequently introducing to said silica gel composition a sufficient amount of an alkali silicate and an acidulating agent to form a precipitated silica without affecting the silica gel, thereby producing a gel/precipitate silica composite, wherein the pH of the overall reaction is within the range of from 3 to 10.
