The Difference Between Ordinary Sand and Silica Sand

The difference between ordinary sand and silica sand

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The difference between ordinary sand and silica sand depends precisely on the standards that silica sand has, if the sand does not meet these standards, it will qualify for what is often called 'regular' sand.

Silica sand standards

Silica sand, also known as quartz sand, white sand, or artificial sand, is composed of two main components: silica and oxygen. Specifically, silica sand is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2).

Silica sand contains 95% SiO2 and less than 0.6% iron oxide.

The most common form of SiO2 is quartz ' a chemically inert and relatively hard mineral.

SiO2 ranks 7 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it ideal for use as filter media and abrasive sanding sand.

Although quartz is often white or colorless, it can come in a wide range of shades. The color of each type of sandy sediment depends largely on the variety of minerals and rock tailings that make up the resource.

How is ordinary sand different from silica sand

The main materials that ordinary sand is made of are: clay, silt, salts, mica, and organic matter. Ordinary sand, also known as feldspathic sand, brown sand, or construction sand, will always contain some silica, but in amounts less than 95% only. For example, typical brown sand used in concrete applications can contain up to 80% SiO2, along with varying amounts of iron, carbonate, potassium and other trace elements/minerals.

These 'impurities' make ordinary sand more chemically reactive and often have a darker color when compared to silica sand. The color of ordinary sand can be in various shades of white, pink, green and also black ' depending on the geological composition and geographical location of the sand deposits.

Ordinary sand uses

According to geologists, sand is defined as grains ranging in diameter from 0. mm (or 1/16 mm) to 2 mm in diameter. The sandy group is located between the gravel group (the diameter of the gravel grains ranges from 2 mm to 64 mm according to the geologists system, and from 4.75 mm to 75 mm according to the Unified Soil Classification System) and the silt group (the diameter of the silt grains ranges from 0.004 mm). to 0. mm).

Ordinary construction sand is used in screed and grouting applications, in short Builders Sand must be used for mortar engineering plaster, general contracting, and brick making. Ordinary sand is mainly used to make concrete because it can hold together well to form a hard, stable surface, but due to the size and shape of the particles, it is not as soft.

Sandy soils are ideal for some crops such as melons, peaches and peanuts, and their excellent dry properties make them suitable for intensive cultivation. Sand also lowers the cost of foundation materials for aquariums and is thought by some to be better than gravel for home use.

Among the regular uses of sand is what some governments are doing to transport sand to beaches that have been subjected to erosion, either by tides or winds or by an active act. Also, mixing sand with paint materials gives a tight decoration for walls or surfaces and floors with anti-slip, and artists usually use sand in drawing.

In the field of roads, engine drivers and railway locomotive operators use sand to improve the grip of wheels on the rails, and sand reduces stickiness and friction in snow and ice conditions and thus contributes to road safety.

Introduction: 

Quartz is one of the common minerals in the earth's crust that cuts across many industries because of its great features. Quartz can be found in the form of powder or sand commonly known as quartz powder and quartz sand respectively. At first glance they look alike but there are major distinctions as well. Our blog post looks at the differences and also talks about what they are used for or what their properties mean.

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Understanding Quartz Powder

As the name implies, quartz powder is made up of small particles extracted from quartz rock. Quartz crystals are crushed into powder form resulting in its production. Quartz powder usually is produced in smaller granules compared to quartz sand, although the particle size depends greatly on the manufacturing process.

Understanding Quartz Sand

Unlike the quartz sand, which comes from natural quartz deposits. Its texture is granular and comprises tiny rounded flakes of a few millimeter radius made of quartz. Quartz sand is frequently called silica sand because it consists of more than 90% of the mineral silicate or silicon dioxide.

Physical Properties

Particle Size and Shape

The main difference between the quartz powder and quartz sands is based on their grain size and shape. Typically, quartz powder contains particles that are smaller than 200 mesh while Quartz sand constitutes bigger grains. They are more conspicuous to the naked eye due to natural weathering.

Purity and Composition

Quartz powder and quartz sand consist mainly of silicon dioxide, commonly abbreviated as SiO2. Nevertheless, these products may vary in terms of their purities. As trusted Quartz Powder Manufacturers we ensure higher purity, sometimes up to 99.9%, thus making this form of quartz appropriate for specific uses. On the contrary, quartz sand is often contaminated with impurities like iron oxides, feldspars, or even other minerals that could affect its qualities.

Applications

Quartz Powder Applications

Quartz powder has a very small granulation for a high grade purity which makes it applicable for many sectors. Some common uses include:

Ceramic Industry: Quartz powder is also used in manufacturing ceramics- tiles, sanitary ware, and porcelains. This makes it a good material that is used in making ceramic glazes and bodies as it has a high melting point and a low coefficient of expansion.

Glass Manufacturing: Glassmaking would be unthinkable without quartz powder. The glass products are provided with transparency, durability and strength against thermal shock by it.

Paints and Coatings: Paints and coating powders are filled with quartz powder so that the finished products will be more durable, harder, and less vulnerable to weathering.

Electronics Industry: Quartz powder is utilized on a vast scale by the semiconductor industry for making integrated circuits and other similar electronics. It is a highly pure material which has high quality electrical properties thus making it an essential product.

Quartz Sand Applications

The other type of quartz sand is larger than normal and is mainly utilized for coarse application. Some notable applications include:

Construction Industry: Quartz sand being a vital component for making concrete, mortar as well as other building materials. It has strength, stability and resistivity to weather.

Water Filtration: The use of quartz sand is very common in filters because it exhibits a high purity and a uniform particle size thus ensuring the provision of clean drinking water by removing contaminants.

Sports and Recreation: Wide spread use for quartz sand is used in a sports field, particularly on golf courses and volleyball courts to give good surface stability.

Conclusion

In brief, although quartz powder and quartz sand come basically from the quartz crystals, they vary substantially on grain size, form, purity, and application fields. Quartz powder is extremely fine and highly pure making it relevant for use in ceramics, production of glassware, paintwork and electronic products. On the contrary, quartz sand is coarse and is mainly used in construction, water filtration, and sport-related activities. This information concerning these differences is essential towards the choice of materials meant for particular purposes. In terms of being a reputed manufacturer and supplier of quartz powder, Sudarshan group assures best quality and customized products to meet different industries' needs.

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