Where is quartz sand used? materials

- granular material with a particle size of 0.05 to 3 mm, formed during the destruction of quartz-containing rocks. Typically, quartz sands contain various impurities in their composition: iron oxides, clay materials, feldspars, carbonates, and others. Impurities give the sand a color ranging from yellow to red-brown. Pure quartz sands contain up to 99% silica.

Production of quartz sand

Natural quartz sand mined in a quarry goes through a complex processing cycle: it is washed, cleaned of impurities, enriched and then, if necessary, dried. Artificial is obtained by crushing and screening of quartz-containing rocks. Quartz sands are sorted into fractions: sand is considered a fraction of 0.1–0.4 mm, coarse sand - 0.5–1.0 mm, and pulverized quartz - anything less than 0.1 mm. A mixture with grains larger than 1.0 mm is considered to be quartz chips.

Application of quartz sand

Due to its high sorption capacity, quartz sand is widely used in cleaning filters for drinking water, wastewater treatment.

Quartz sand is very resistant to atmospheric, chemical and physical actions, is not afraid of aggressive environments and high temperatures, which is why it is common in construction organizations in the production of cement (including Portland cements used in cementing gas and oil wells), bricks, asphalt, for the manufacture of decorative and finishing building materials, when plastering facade and interior interiors, for design work. Concrete blocks made using quartz sand have a soft pastel color scheme all sorts of colors.

Quartz sand is also used in faience, glass and porcelain production, in the production of paint and varnish products, various filters, in sandblasters, in chem. Industry, foundry. Quartz sand is used instead of material for the production of refractory building materials. Due to its good abrasive properties, it is widely used in grinding lenses and other polished materials, when sawing stone. As an arc-extinguishing element, quartz sand is also used in the manufacture of electrical fuses.

In industry, quartz sand is divided into two main groups. The first of them is aggregate sand, which is produced in various fractional compositions from 0.2 mm to 5 mm and is used for filling filters, for cleaning, as well as for the manufacture of dry mixes and concretes, and of course for sandblasting. The second group are molding sands, which are used in the foundry industry. These sands are sufficient with a rigid fractional composition, for example, 0.25 mm or 0.3 mm. They have a high coefficient of uniformity, which is 72-80%. These characteristics make it possible to use fractionated sands not only in foundry production, but also as an additive in the production of dry mixes and metal processing (sandblasting).

Characteristics of quartz sand

Humidity less than 10%.

Sand for the production of silicate products is divided into classes: A (SiO2 content of at least 70%), B (SiO2 content of at least 60%), C (SiO2 content of at least 50%).

Quartz sand marking

The marking of quartz sand for the glass industry contains an alphabetic index indicating the scope of application, the mass fraction of iron oxide in thousandths, the product grade of this brand (highest, first, second).

Letter indices:

"OOVS" - for especially responsible products of high translucency;

"OVS" - for responsible products of high translucency;

"VS" - for products of high translucency;

"C" - for translucent products;

"B" - for colorless products;

"PB" - for semi-white products;

"PS" - for products of reduced translucency;

"T" - for products made of dark green glass. Advantages of quartz sand

Uniform structure and monomineral (does not contain impurities). High strength and resistance to mechanical, chemical, atmospheric influences. Possibility of dyeing in any color. It has a large intergranular porosity, which gives quartz sand a high dirt holding capacity and provides excellent sorption capacity.

Quartz sand is a mineral with a high content of quartz. There are two types of this sand: natural and artificial.

natural quartz sand formed by natural crushing of quartz rocks, it is mined from developed deposits. Depending on the place of extraction of sand, it is divided into: mountain, river, dune and burial. To obtain pure quartz sand, the sand mined in quarries is first washed and cleaned of impurities, then enriched using special electrochemical installations.

To obtain artificial sand, quartz is crushed, then crushed and sieved, filtering the resulting sand according to the grain size. The size range of sand grains varies from 0.1 to 1 mm.

A distinctive feature of quartz sand is the uniformity of its structure, it consists of a single mineral - quartz. This property of sand is a determining factor in the manufacture of glass, the transparency of which directly depends on the amount of impurities.

Another defining property of crushed quartz is the acute-angled shape of its particles. The anisotropy of particles contributes to the formation of a strong bond with cement, which is actively used in the creation of building mixtures.

The large intergranular porosity of quartz sand contributes to its high dirt holding capacity, which makes it possible to use the mineral as a filter medium. Water purified with quartz sand becomes soft, clean and pleasant to the taste.

Quartz sand is resistant to aggressive environments and high temperatures, does not react to atmospheric changes, is immune to physical and chemical influences. Therefore, it is widely used in the manufacture of cement, brick, asphalt production, it is added to concrete to obtain matte surface. Quartz sand is used in earthenware, porcelain and chemical industries.

Despite all its advantages, quartz sand has a very reasonable price, which further increases its demand.

Quartz sand is a granular material of mineral origin. It is formed as a result of the destruction of quartz-containing rocks. The distribution in the earth's crust is very wide. The size of sand fractions varies within 0.1-6 mm. Quartz rocks often contain various impurities in the form of clay carbonates, iron oxides, feldspars and other rocks. They give quartz (naturally transparent or white) various shades. The color scheme changes from yellow to red-brown and even black. Pure quartz sands have a minimum of inert impurities: up to 99% of the composition is silica. Chemical formula SiO2. The color of quartz sand without impurities is milky.

Types of quartz sand

Quartz sand is divided into two varieties: a material of natural and artificial origin. The first occurs in the form of enriched quartz sand of various fractions and is mined in a developed deposit. mechanically. The second also has a natural origin: the raw material is crushed vein quartz - a custom rock (pure quartz). For extraction, a drilling and blasting method is used, and then the resulting material is crushed for further use.

Quartz sand is divided into several categories by origin. River, mountain and cellar sand is mined, respectively, on the banks of rivers, in places where rocks come out and under the soil at a certain depth. The river variety contains a minimum amount of contaminants.

Quartz sand is also divided according to the shape of the grains into rounded and crushed. Rounded has the appearance of rounded grains, crushed looks like uneven chipped grains.

Mining and production of quartz sand

The extraction of quartz fractional sand is carried out open way from a quarry or a dredger from natural deposits in floodplains of rivers and lakes.

A small amount of impurities and a large number of quartz - this is the difference between developments in which quartz sand is mined, from quarries in which ordinary construction sand is mined. The extracted raw material goes through a number of technological processes: washing from mud deposits and cleaning from impurities chemical method. This process called enrichment, it serves to obtain sand of the required quality. As a result, the content of quartz rock increases, and the purest material is obtained, which, after drying on special installations, passes through a series of sieves and is distributed into fractions. The resulting product is called fractionated quartz sand.

The process of extraction by a dredger is as follows: a mixture of sand and water from the bottom of the reservoir is pumped and transferred through a special pipeline to the storage site. Water gradually separates from the extracted soil and goes back into the reservoir through the drains. The resulting material is sent to the enterprise for its further enrichment and separation into fractions.

Artificial quartz sand is obtained from veined quartz rock, which is first sent to the crushing complex. There, the raw material is crushed into grains. This is followed by procedures similar to when working with quarry sand: the material is washed, dried and separated by a technical sieve into fractions.

Characteristics and properties of quartz sand

Features of quartz sand

The peculiarity of quartz sand, which distinguishes it from other types of sand, is that this material is monomineral, that is, it consists of only one mineral - quartz. This homogeneity makes it a valuable industrial raw material. A small proportion of impurities makes it possible to obtain glass with a high degree transparency. Another feature is intergranular porosity. Compared to other materials, quartz sand provides the highest dirt holding capacity. In addition to this property, the degree of wear of sand grains is low, and quartz sand already shows itself excellently as a filter material.

Chemical properties of quartz sand

The crystalline structure of quartz gives it and the sand derived from it exceptional strength and resistance to alkali and acid materials. Very high hardness, refractoriness and chemical composition of quartz sand cause its increased fire resistance and fire safety. The material in its properties corresponds to a dielectric and is inert to a wide range of chemicals.

Physical properties of quartz sand

Sand is characterized by all the properties of quartz:

• bulk density 1300-1500 g/cm3
• abrasion - 0.1
• crushability - 0.3
• hardness (Mohs scale) - 7 (for comparison, the hardness of diamond is 10)
• use by radioactivity - class 1

The density of quartz sand is determined by two different approaches. There is bulk density, and there is true density. Bulk is calculated as the ratio of the mass of the material in a bulk state to its volume. This value includes the pores in the sand grains and the air spaces between them. That is, this value may vary depending on the moisture content of the material. True density - a constant value, is the ratio of a substance in an absolutely dense state to its volume. The moisture content of the sand does not matter. To change the density, the chemical composition or molecular structure must be changed. Bulk density is less than true. The density of the material is an important characteristic that must be taken into account when calculating the places for storage, its transportation and movement by handling equipment.

Abrasion, crushability and hardness of quartz sand are indirect indicators of its strength. To determine the values, the grains are tested on a rotating wearable circle of metal, the mass of fractions is compressed mechanically and scratched by the grain of the standard and, conversely, by the grain standard.

Fractions of quartz sand:

• dusty - less than 0.1 mm
• fine-grained: 0.1-0.8 mm
• medium-grained: 0.8 - 1.6 mm;
• coarse: 1.6 - 6.0 mm

Pulverized and fine-grained quartz sand is used as part of various building materials, such as building mixtures, putties, grouts, abrasive materials, thin plasters and paints.

Quartz sand of medium grain size is used for filtering and cleaning liquids, for sandblasting, for building mixtures, facade and interior plasters, self-leveling floors, concrete solutions, in landscape design, for backfilling of sports grounds.

Coarse material is used to make paving slabs, concrete blocks, landscape decoration. It is also used for filtering.

Sand of all fractions is used in the glass, foundry and chemical industries.

Application of quartz sand

For water purification and filtration

The chemical and physical properties of quartz sand make it ideal for use as a water filter. drinking or technical purpose water, including in pools, can be qualitatively and easily purified from mechanical impurities and reduce the content of iron, fluorides, chlorides, sulfates, salts of heavy metals and other harmful impurities. Excellent adhesive properties help to attract dirt to the surface of the grains of sand.

Quartz filter sand is used in the first stage of multi-stage household and industrial filters for preliminary mechanical cleaning. Multiple use is possible, as the material is easily washed when contaminated by water-air washing. The use of a quartz sand filter extends the life of subsequent filter stages.

Sandblasting

One of the most effective surface cleaning techniques is sandblasting. Quartz sand or other abrasive is sprayed onto the surface (glass, metal, stone, wood) to be cleaned using a compressed air or water jet. The grains of sand fly at great speed and destroy the top layer of the surface, cleaning it from scale, corrosion and other coatings. It is necessary to ensure that together with the removed layer, for example, mold on old masonry, the stone itself is not damaged. must be selected taking into account the surface material, the degree of contamination and further processing.

Main areas of work:

• metal cleaning from rust and other contaminants;
• degreasing surfaces;
• glass matting;
• cleaning of concrete and masonry;
• roughening the surface for further processing.

Today there is a wide variety of abrasive materials, but dry quartz sand remains the most popular for sandblasting.

Resin floors filled with quartz sand are durable, seamless, non-slip and hygienic and easy to clean. Quartz sand for self-leveling floors - good way cheaper traditional self-leveling floor. This material is suitable for both new coatings and existing concrete floors. Most often, polymer floors are used in rooms with significant abrasive loads on the concrete surface. Self-leveling floors in this case are used as a finishing decorative coating. It has a smooth and attractive surface, excellent resistance to stress. Such a floor is characterized by low abrasion, since the polymer in this case acts as a binder, and the main functional load associated with wear is borne by a quartz filler, the abrasion of which is extremely low. To preserve the decorative properties, the floor must be covered with mastic, protective varnish or wax.

Silica sand in the foundry industry

Molding quartz sand is used in the metallurgical industry for the manufacture of casting molds and cores. The quality of casting into one-off molds is directly related to the characteristics of the foundry sand. Casting accuracy, its surface quality, the structure and properties of cast alloys, the likelihood of developing defects and the need for complex finishing operations are very dependent on the characteristics of the sand. The complex of operations associated with the manufacture of a mold accounts for approximately 60% of the labor costs for obtaining castings. Molding quartz sands have a uniformity coefficient of 72 to 80% and are characterized by increased strength and fire resistance.

Glass production

The glass industry is one of the main consumers of quartz sand. Glass quartz sand intended for glass production must meet special requirements. In the material, the proportion of silicon oxide should be at least 95%, clay impurities should be no more than 1%, iron oxide - no more than 1%. In high grades, the content of silicon oxide reaches 99.8%. Moisture in dried sand should be no more than 0.5%. The proportion of impurities in the sand directly affects the transparency of the glass made from it. Quartz sand is the basis for the manufacture of all types of glass. Ordinary window, medical, fiberglass, laboratory, electronics and so on are made from the same material. Therefore, great attention is paid to the purification of raw materials in the production of quartz sand.

Depending on the chemical composition sand is classified by grades that have a letter designation and purpose:

• OOVS - products of special responsibility with high translucency;
• ОВС - responsible products with high translucency;
• VS - products with high translucency;
• C - translucent products;
• B - colorless products;
• PB - semi-white products;
• PS - products with reduced translucency;
• T - dark green glass.

For sports surfaces

When organizing sports grounds with artificial grass coverage, a backfill of quartz sand in combination with rubber granulate or only quartz sand can be used. On the football fields use a composite composition: rubber crumb softens friction in the event of a sliding fall of the player. Tennis courts, multi-purpose playgrounds, school stadiums and training grounds use only quartz sand between the grass. The excellent drainage properties of sand, provided that the grass is laid on the field correctly, is a guarantee that even during precipitation, puddles and mud will not form on the field. Quartz sand for sports surfaces is environmentally friendly, environmentally neutral and proven durability. Thus, the use of quartz sand as an artificial turf substrate gives a special comfort when playing and training on sports grounds.

For road surfaces

Silica paving sand can be used to mark areas of high danger and special attention. Colored material can be used to highlight road crossings, public transport stops, entrances to industrial facilities or schools. Sharp turns on high-speed highways covered with quartz chips will reduce the danger of passing through such sections. Increased roughness will improve wheel traction and reduce the risk of skidding.

You can use quartz sand for garden paths and paths, as well as pedestrian areas. Excellent decorative and hygienic properties will allow you to keep walking alleys in the proper form without much effort.

Silica sand is almost indispensable in many applications and is one of the most important components for home and production. Technologies with its application have been worked out to perfection. Attractive natural color, as well as the possibility of painting in any shade due to its excellent absorbent properties, expands the usual scope of applications. For the practicality of the material, you can put the highest score.

Most building materials are based on natural components that have the necessary properties and are in sufficient quantity for industrial production. Quartz sand is one of the most common natural minerals and is used in all areas of construction.

What provides the chemical properties of the material

The main component of quartz sand is silicon dioxide (quartz). Its formula is SiO2. It may also contain organic impurities, clay, oxides of iron and a number of other metals. The content of quartz in the original mineral is usually not less than 93-95%.

The principle of operation of building mixtures used to obtain building blocks and slabs is based on the chemical interaction of the components. The resulting inorganic chains provide the required parameters of the material.

Silicon dioxide is an acidic oxide, therefore it reacts with calcium and aluminum compounds found in limestone and clay. The interaction can proceed both during the drying of the wet mixture and during thermal baking.

Varieties of quartz sand and its extraction

There are natural and artificial varieties of sand, which differ in the method of extraction.

natural natural

This type of sand is ubiquitous in nature and is found at the bottom of water basins and in the composition of the soil. Most of its grains are 0.2 to 1 mm in size.

There are several ways to extract quartz sand:

• quarrying- is the main way. If mining is carried out above sea level, then the resulting sand is called mountain sand. Varieties of soil sand are extracted during the development of soil on the plains. The appearance of quarry sand is characterized by pointed shapes and often a rough surface, which makes it a valuable building material. The extracted sand can be subjected to additional processing - screening, washing and drying. The more stringent the requirements for sand properties in any industry, the more thorough the preparation required. In the construction of small structures, sand is usually unaffected and supplied directly from the place of its extraction;
• development of water basins– the sand is washed out by the dredger and is characterized by high purity provided by natural washing. Mining is carried out in riverbeds, lakes, as well as marine areas. Sea sand is somewhat less valuable due to the higher content of mineral impurities. River sand has a smooth shape - under a microscope, the grains of sand resemble sea pebbles. The use of smooth (rounded) sands is common in self-leveling mixtures - sand grains do not cling to each other.

This is how natural quartz sand looks like in the photo

artificial sand

Despite the name, the mineral has a natural origin, but initially it is in the form of large crystals. To turn quartz crystals into sand, mechanical action (explosion) is used, after which the fragments are crushed.

Ways to classify quartz sand

The starting point in the classification system is the properties of the material and how it is prepared. There are the following areas of classification of quartz sand:

By size (fractional composition)

The numerical expression is the average value of particle sizes or their size range (fraction):

1. pulverized quartz - represents a fraction of less than 0.1 mm (sifted into a sieve with a pore diameter of 0.1 mm) and is usually found when crushing quartz crystals;
2. fine-grained sand - a fraction of 0.1-0.25 mm;
3. medium sand - fraction 0.25-0.5 mm;
4. coarse sand - a fraction of 0.5-1 (rarely up to 3) mm.

For enrichment

Quartz sand is divided into unenriched and enriched sand:

• raw sand is the original mineral that has not been treated to increase the silica content;
• enriched sand contains a few percent increased quartz content, obtained by removing most of the impurities. Thus, white quartz sand is purified from organic compounds, iron oxides and clay impurities by sifting, washing and drying.

Due to the nature of production, the main specifications received material. This, in turn, affects the possibility of further .

enrichment technology

The high purity of the quartz mixture is necessary requirement in a number of technological processes. The initial enrichment stage includes fractionation and washing - with their help, the coarsest impurities are removed.

The next step is the use of special technologies, such as:

• gravity enrichment- the main method, the essence of which is to separate the components of the mixture by density. The lighter particles are carried away by the water flow, while the heavier particles settle to the bottom of the apparatus. The gravitational effect can be enhanced by centrifugation or the addition of chemicals that change the wettability of the sand components;
• electrical and magnetic separation- represents the effect of an electric current and a magnetic field, leading to the separation of some impurities. So, the magnetic effect is especially effective when cleaning from iron particles with magnetic properties.

The parameters of the enriched sand fundamentally affect the quality of the work performed. Sand mixtures with the best properties are produced only by certified enterprises using standard technologies.

By color

It is natural and dyed. Natural quartz sand is pale yellow to brownish yellow in color. Artificial dyeing is carried out with stable paints based on synthetic binders, allowing you to create original multi-color ornaments from sand. Such sand can be colored and white.

According to the degree of preparation

Depending on technological requirements, sand can be produced in the following varieties:

1. fractionated- represents a specific fraction of sand, the size of which is limited by technical regulations;
2. dry- air-dried. Together with fractionated sand, it can be used as a working medium for sandblasting machines;
3. calcined sand- completely dehydrated by calcination. Heating significantly above 100 °C ensures the desorption of moisture even from the deep pores of quartz. Such sand is used in ready-made building mixtures stored for a long time - even a slight moisture content can render the entire mixture unusable;
4. rounded quartz sand- has less abrasive properties, therefore it is suitable for delicate applications, for example, sandboxes on playgrounds;
5. molding quartz sand- used to produce cast quartz products and is characterized by a high degree of enrichment.

Production and extraction of quartz sand

On the territory of Russia there are a significant number of large deposits of quartz sand. The most famous are the Chulkovskoe (Moscow region), Kozlovskoe (Bryansk region), Elshanskoe (Volgograd region), Berezichskoe (Kaluga region) deposits and a number of others.

Differences of quartz construction sand, extracted from these places, are initially high quality parameters and higher cost. It is important to understand that the properties of sand from the nearest quarry will be quite sufficient for the construction of small summer cottages, so you should not overpay. If the goal is to build a large mansion, then saving on the quality of sand can negatively affect the durability of the house.

This is how quartz sand is mined on a special production line:

What are the characteristics of sand

The main regulatory document is GOST 2138-91, there are also others regulations (GOST 22551 77, GOST 51641 2000, 8736 93). They reflect the requirements for the main quality parameters and properties, namely:

1. the content of the clay component. Allocate 5 groups with established amounts of clay from 0.2 to 2.0%;
2. silicon dioxide content - from 99% to 93%, corresponding to groups from K1 to K5;
3. coefficient of uniformity, reflecting the variation in particle size relative to the average (in %). The larger the value, the more uniform sand mix. In total, there are five groups (from O1 to O5), differing in the coefficient of uniformity (from 80 to 50%);
4. fraction composition. This parameter reflects the average particle size of quartz sand: up to 0.14 mm; 0.14-0.18 mm, 0.19-0.23 mm, 0.24-0.28 mm, more than 0.28 mm;
5. humidity. Dry sands contain no more than 0.5% moisture, wet - no more than 4.0%, wet - no more than 6.0%;
6. in the composition of sand, the content of metal oxides, the surface area of ​​grains, their shape, gas permeability, and also the loss of mass on ignition are also normalized.

Quality sand must have a certificate of compliance with the specified standards.

Operational properties of quartz sand

Material parameters that affect the quality of work and determine the scope of application include:

• bulk density - is about 1300-1500 kg / m3;
• true density - is in the range of 2600-2700 kg / m3. The value of true density is used in calculating the volume of cement or concrete mortar obtained by mixing the components;
• the thermal conductivity of quartz sand is about 0.30 W / (m? ° C). The shape and dimensions of sand granules have a significant effect on the heat-insulating properties - the denser their arrangement and the smaller the gaps, the higher the thermal conductivity coefficient;
• melting temperature - the maximum working temperature of quartz sand is estimated at 1050 ° C, which is quite enough for any construction works. When casting quartz products, temperatures of 1700 °C and above are used.
• normal quartz sand in a loose state has a bulk density of 1,500 kg/m3 and a bulk density of 1,600 kg/m3.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material - general assessment

Quartz sand is an almost indispensable component in many areas of application, and technologies with its participation have been worked out to perfection. For practicality, the material receives a "5".

The appearance of sand is familiar from childhood, and sand playgrounds are often associated with the beach and relaxation - for appearance also put a solid "5".

Despite the massive use of sand, its fine dust can lead to chronic diseases at the builders. For environmental friendliness, the material receives a "4".

The cost of sand is comparable to the cost of other building materials. Lacking special advantages in price, quartz sand deserves a rating of "4".

The approximate cost of various fractions of quartz sand is shown in the table:

Along with clay and limestone, quartz sand is one of the most important and necessary components for production and everyday life. The variety of material properties provides a wide range of applications. The presence of sand pits near the construction site significantly reduces the cost of building a house.

Quartz sand is a type of foundry sand. This is crushed quartz, which is used in various fields. It is mined different ways. In our article, you can see a photo of quartz sand in order to further understand what it is actually about.

Classification

Quartz sand is divided into:

• river (is the cleanest and most expensive);
• marine (particles are mixed with clay and silt elements. Demand for it is less than for river);
• soil (cellar, located under a layer of clay, soil. It is characterized by an acute-angled shape and roughness. It is used in construction work);
• ravine (has impurities of silt. These are rough fractions of an acute-angled shape. They are part of the solutions of plaster, concrete);
• mountainous (the origin is located in a mountainous area. According to its characteristics, it is close to a ravine).

Quartz sand is divided into natural and artificial. In the first case, rounded, natural sand appears as a result of the action of water and air. Quartz grains become smooth and round.

In the second case, a quartz vein is crushed, obtaining crushed sand. The rock is blown up, obtaining acute-angled elements, which are divided into fractions. Artificial sand is monomineral.

Its advantages include the following:

• Silicon oxide IV is 98%.
• Contains no organic impurities.
• Resistant to mechanical and chemical influences.
• High temperatures withstand easily.

Application

This inorganic mineral has a number of properties that make it a unique material. Quartz sand:

• does not react with other chemicals;
• has a high bulk density;
• durable (grains are almost not subject to abrasion);
• radiation safe;
• is a good sorbent;
• may be stained.

Due to its characteristics, the mineral has become necessary material in many areas. How is quartz sand used? It is used in:

• light and heavy industry (fractionated sand is filled with building mixtures High Quality. It is one of the components of the self-leveling floor, decorative plasters);
• metallurgy (founding sand is involved in the creation of molds for casting. The resulting products have refractory properties and are highly durable);
• glass production (participates in the manufacture of glass containers, fiberglass, and other materials. Magnetic cleaning eliminates iron impurities from the material);
• construction (participates in the creation silicate bricks, concrete with refractory properties);
• housing and communal services;
• transport services;
• water treatment (included in the filters, due to the absorbent characteristics);
• animal husbandry (added to feed);
• production of composite electrical fuses (used due to dielectric properties).

Mineral deposits

Where to find quartz sand? This inorganic mineral is often found at the bottom, on the banks of natural reservoirs, in quarries. Its deposits are known in Russia, India, Switzerland, Burma and other countries. It is formed as a result of the decay of granite. In Russia, it is mined in the Bryansk, Moscow, Volgograd, Kaluga regions. Also, near Orenburg, in the Urals. There are deposits in the channels of the Samara and Ural rivers.

Mining Features

Quartz can be divided into primary and secondary. The first variety is formed directly during the decay of granite, located under a layer of clay, mixtures. This is a decomposed granite, which lies in one place for a long time, without being exposed to water, sun, air.

Secondary quartz is a mineral that is affected by water. Streams of water erode and carry it to other places. As a rule, accumulations form at the bottom of rivers.

Mining of primary quartz

It is extracted from the places of occurrence, transported for processing. Then the clay is dissolved, the quartz is dehydrated, calcined. The material is divided into fractions, packaged.

Extraction of secondary quartz

Raw materials are collected from reservoirs by a pump. Then the mixture is transferred to the places of accumulation. They form a quarry on the ground, collect deposits with the help of an excavator and other equipment.

crushed quartz

Received as a result of an explosion. Then processed into ground quartz sand. Used for sandblasting. Its sieving is optimal, and its composition is granulometric. This allows you to make sandblasting surfaces efficient. Crushed quartz can be used to clean metal, wood, plastic, glass, concrete and brick surfaces.

How to pick up sand

For each type of work, you need to select the sand of the appropriate thickness. Quartz sand can be fine, coarse-grained, medium in size. The larger the fraction, the more rough the processing will be.

The material is more expensive than ordinary sand. Its processing is not easy and cheap. The mineral is very durable and lasts a long time.

Photo of quartz sand