Silica Sand

Symbol	SiO₂

This is a short overview. For the background — history, value over time and notable mines — see Silica Sand →

A very pure quartz sand, nearly free of the iron that discolours ordinary sand, prized for glassmaking, foundry moulds and refractory silica brick. The finest grades were sold as silver sand. Worked in Britain in the Bedfordshire beds around Leighton Buzzard, in pocket deposits and small mines across the Surrey Weald and at Alum Bay, and underground at Lochaline in Morvern.

Mines

Show these mines on the map

Mine	Region	Worked
Alum Bay Sand and Copperas Workings	Isle of Wight	from 1561
Double Arches Pit	Bedfordshire	1916–1985
Leighton Buzzard Sand Quarries	Bedfordshire	By 1851–By late 1960s
Lochaline Mine	Highland	1940–2008 (closure)
Penwyllt Quarry	Powys	c. 1820–1937
Reigate Caves	Surrey	18th century–early 20th century