Comprehensive Research on Washed Silica Sand: Expert Review

 Washed silica sand is a high-purity, granular material composed of finely divided quartz grains. It is produced by washing and scrubbing natural silica sand to remove impurities, such as clay, silt, and organic matter. The washing process ensures that the silica sand meets stringent quality standards, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications.

The global washed silica sand market size is projected to grow from USD 18 million in 2021 to USD 24 million by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.4% during the forecast year. Washed silica sand refers to silica sand that undergoes a washing and rinsing process after mining. Salt, clay, and other powders and dust are washed out of the overall mixture.

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Here are some key points about washed silica sand and its market dynamics:

• Purity and Quality: Washed silica sand is prized for its high purity, typically containing over 95% silica content. This purity makes it suitable for various applications where contamination or impurities are undesirable.
• Particle Size: The particle size of washed silica sand can vary depending on its intended use. Different industries require different grades of silica sand, ranging from fine to coarse particles.
• End-Use Industries:Construction: Washed silica sand is used in construction for applications such as concrete and mortar production. Its high silica content enhances the strength and durability of these materials.
• Glass Manufacturing: The glass industry is a significant consumer of washed silica sand. It is a key raw material used to make various types of glass, including flat glass, container glass, and specialty glasses.
• Foundry and Casting: Silica sand is used in foundry processes to create molds and cores for metal casting. The high melting point of silica sand helps maintain the shape of the molds during casting.
• Oil and Gas Exploration: In the oil and gas industry, washed silica sand is used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations. It is mixed with fluids and pumped into wells to prop open fractures and allow for the extraction of hydrocarbons.
• Water Filtration: Silica sand is used in water treatment processes for filtration and purification due to its ability to remove suspended solids and impurities from water.
• Sports and Leisure: In applications like sandblasting, sandboxes, and golf course bunkers, washed silica sand is used for its clean and uniform grain size.

Market Dynamics:

Growing Demand: The demand for washed silica sand is driven by the construction industry's growth, especially in emerging markets, as well as the expansion of industries like glass manufacturing and hydraulic fracturing.

• Environmental Regulations: Stringent environmental regulations can impact the mining and processing of silica sand, requiring companies to implement eco-friendly practices.
• Price Volatility: The price of washed silica sand can fluctuate due to factors such as supply and demand dynamics, transportation costs, and energy prices.
• Global Supply Chain: Silica sand is often transported over long distances to meet demand in various industries, which can impact pricing and availability.
• Technological Advancements: Innovations in silica sand processing and beneficiation technologies can influence market dynamics by improving efficiency and reducing production costs.

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Washed Silica Sand Market Key Players

The washed silica sand market has thousands of companies which thrive in their domestic market. A few of the major players are, Sibelco NV (Belgium), U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (US), VRX Silica Limited (Australia), Australian Silica Quartz Group Ltd (Australia), and Adwan Chemical Industries Company (Saudi Arabia), among others. These players have adopted various growth strategies, such as merger & acquisitions, and agreements, to increase their market shares and enhance their product portfolios.

SCR- Sibelco NV is a global material solutions company. It provides specialty industrial minerals, particularly silica, clays, feldspathic sand, and olivine. The company operates different business segments, namely, Covia, Build Environment; Disposal Group Lime, Glass Solutions; Coating, Polymer & Chemical Solutions; and Water & Environment Solutions. Covia operates with 50 million tons of active production capacity. The company produces the crystalline forms of silica – quartz and cristobalite – as both sands and flours. For industrial use, pure deposits of silica capable of yielding products of at least 98% SiO2 are required. The company has three major silica sand production facilities worldwide. It has 114 production sites that are operating in 31 countries worldwide.

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. engages in the provision of commercial silica products. It operates through the Oil & Gas Proppants and Industrial & Specialty Products segments. The Oil & Gas Proppants segment focuses in delivering fracturing sand, which is pumped down oil and natural gas wells to prop open rock fissures and increase the flow rate of natural gas and oil from the wells. The company operates in the US and Canada. It operates 23 production facilities in the US. It controls 489 million tons of reserves of commercial silica, which can be processed to make 197 million tons of finished products.

Washed silica sand is also called processed silica sand with less impurities and is gained post-washing and beneficiation process of mined silica sand. According to EUROSIL (European industrial silica producers association), “Silica is the name given to a group of minerals composed of silicon and oxygen, the two most abundant elements in the earth's crust. Silica is found commonly in the crystalline state and rarely in an amorphous state. It is composed of one atom of silicon and two atoms of oxygen resulting in the chemical formula SiO2.” The growth of the washed silica sand market is attributed to the increased demand for high-grade silica sand, especially from the glass industry, as out of the total glass production volume, about 65%-70% of material is silica sand. However, factors such as stringent regulations on the usage of silica sand may inhibit the growth of the market.

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MarketsandMarkets expects the global washed silica sand market size to grow from USD 18 million in 2021 to USD 24 million by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2021 to 2026. The market for washed silica sand is segmented, based on Fe content, into >0.01% and <=0.01%. Silica sand, with an Fe content more than 0.01%, has been the larger market in 2021, owing to its high demand from industrial applications, including glass and abrasive. However, in 2020 with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the closure of manufacturing capacities of respective industries, the demand for silica sand has witnessed a decline in growth. The growth is expected to boost during the forecast period at a significant CAGR with the improving market conditions and demand from various industrial applications.