How much does silica sand cost?

Silica sand can cost between $50 to over $300 per ton. The cost depends on location of the sand mine and delivery location.

Silica sand is composed of quartz and is also called "frac sand" since it is used in the production of natural gas and oil. Hydraulic fracturing, known as "fracking," involves pushing high volumes of water, chemicals and silica sand into a gas or oil well. The mixture holds open the fractured rocks, allowing gas or oil to flow out. The sand must be of a certain quality to be used in the process. The cost per ton is affected greatly by the cost of transporting the sand from one location to another.