Sand mining is not a new practice in China. The recent demand for high-quality quartz sand for a natural gas drilling process called hydraulic fracturing (also known as “fracking” or “fracing”), however, has greatly increased this activity – especially in China' cities. While Hengyang Industry has deposits of sand that are used for the hydraulic fracturing process, the drilling occurs in shale deposits containing oil and natural gas that are found in other countries, such as India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Sand mining operations designed to mine and export ‘frac sand’ are often much larger in acreage than the smaller, more traditional  sand mines that serve mainly local needs for sand. The sand is desirable for fracing and some other uses due to its size, shape, and crystalline silica properties and because the deposits are usually close to the surface and easy to mine.

An increase in the number of new requests for mining and processing plant permits has led several communities to raise questions about the possibility for respirable crystalline silica (RCS) to be generated at mine sites, and how RCS might impact the health of nearby residents.

What is respirable crystalline silica (RCS)?

Dust can be made up of visible (larger) and microscopic (smaller) particles. Particulate matter is defined as airborne material (solid or liquid) that is smaller than 100 microns (millionths of a meter) in size. For comparison, human hair is typically between 70 to 100 microns in diameter. 

Production Process:

Main Equipment:

Washing Machine

Magnetic Separator

Grinding mill

Rotary Screen