What Is Silica Sand & How Is It Different From Regular Sand?
What Is Silica Sand? Silica sand , also known as quartz sand, white sand, or industrial sand, consists primarily of two elements: silica and oxygen. Specifically, silica sand is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2). The predominant form of SiO2 in silica sand is quartz—a chemically inert and relatively hard mineral. With a rating of 7 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, quartz is well-suited for applications such as filtration media and abrasive blasting sands. While quartz is typically colorless or white, it can exhibit a wide range of hues. The coloration of each sand deposit is influenced by the presence of various minerals and rock detritus within the resource. To be classified as silica sand, the material must contain at least 95% SiO2 and less than 0.6% iron oxide. Sands that do not meet these criteria are often referred to as "regular" sand. Differences Between Silica Sand and Regular Sand Regular sand, also known as feldspathic sand, brown sand, or const