How is silica mined?
The technique for silica mining depends on the location of the silica. Sand, the most common and readily available source of silica is found in beach and basin deposits, large dunes in desert areas, underground in glacially deposited pockets, and in sandstones. In most deposits the removal is done by surface mining, with the aid of large earth moving equipment, transported by conveyor or mining truck to a central location, and distributed via truck to purchasers.