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Silica Statistics and Information

By National Minerals Information Center

Statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and flow of the mineral commodity silica

Industrial sand and gravel, often called "silica," "silica sand," and "quartz sand," includes sands and gravels with high silicon dioxide (SiO2) content.  These sands are used in glassmaking; for foundry, abrasive, and hydraulic fracturing (frac) applications; and for many other industrial uses.   The specifications for each use vary, but silica resources for most uses are abundant.  In almost all cases, silica mining uses open pit or dredging mining methods with standard mining equipment.  Except for temporarily disturbing the immediate area while mining operations are active, sand and gravel mining usually has limited environmental impact.

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Annual Publications

Mineral Commodity Summaries

Minerals Yearbook

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