How is Industrial Sand Produced?

Industrial sand production begins with mining. Some ore deposits are mined by scooping unconsolidated material, some require blasting and crushing hard rock formations in quarries, and some rely on dredging below the water table. Once extracted, the work has only begun. Additional steps include washing, processing to remove impurities, draining, drying, screening to segregate the sand grains by size and, at some plants, grinding and packaging. Most industrial sand is shipped to industrial customers in bulk by truck or rail. The mining and processing operations are capital intensive, requiring multi-million dollar investments for machinery and other equipment. Thus, the industry must focus on long term commitments and planning for industrial sand operations to be viable. NISA member companies are dedicated to the health and safety of their employees, community involvement, and proper environmental stewardship.