What is Silica Sand?

Silica sand is usually a form of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and is composed of two main elements - silicon dioxide and oxygen.

The most common form of silica is quartz, a chemically inert and hard mineral that breaks down over time through wind and water into fine particles called silica sand.

It is also known as white sand, quartz sand and industrial sand, and comes in a variety of shades, mainly white or colorless. The color of sand depends mainly on the rock fragments and various minerals that make up the resource.

It is obtained from quartz material from sources such as sand dunes and processed into different types and grades of sand which are then supplied to different industries for various applications.

Silica sand has some criteria, namely it must contain at least 95% silica and equal to 0.6% iron oxide, otherwise it is considered as ordinary sand.

What makes silica sand different from other sands?

Other sands in this context refer to ordinary sand or common building sand, which are usually brown in color and used in concrete applications. These also contain some silica, but only up to 80%, as well as other minerals such as iron, potassium, carbonates and other trace elements.

The presence of these minerals makes the sand regular and darker in color compared to silica sand. Common sands (non-silica sands) come in a variety of shades of pink, black and green, depending on the sand deposited in different geological locations.

Uses of silica sand

Silica sand is valued for its many useful properties. It has a high melting point and a low coefficient of thermal expansion, making it ideal for applications involving high temperature exposure.