There are a number of different uses for silica sand in the industrial and commercial sectors, from golf courses to glassmaking. Silica sand is a commercial and consumer product that is widely available throughout North America.

How silica sand is used depends on physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics such as grain size, shape, color, structure, and distribution, as well as refractoriness, strength, and stability. These characteristics can differ depending on how the mineral is processed after it is mined.