Silver Sand

Symbol	SiO₂

An unusually pure, fine, pale quartz sand, valued because it is nearly free of the iron that discolours ordinary sand. It was mined rather than dug where the best beds lay under cover, and went chiefly to glassmaking, with coarser grades used for foundry moulding and for scouring.

Mines

Mine	Region	Worked
Alum Bay Sand and Copperas Workings	Isle of Wight	Alum attempted from 1561; sand and pyrite worked from the 16th century–Extraction now prohibited under SSSI designation
Reigate Caves	Surrey	18th century or earlier; Tunnel Road mines after 1823–early 20th century