Has anyone bought what is sold as “frac sand” for use in an arena? It’s my understanding it’s high quality silica sand. I am just a few miles from a distribution plant and I’m exploring purchasing a truckload.
New question, has anyone added silica sand on top of another sand (mine is concrete sand with mag flakes). Perhaps this would be the perfect time to add fiber to the arena as well.
Thanks for any input.
Having just explored something like this for my dressage arena, a single truck load will likely be far too little to have a significant effect on the footing.
For me, the cost of the 10 or so recommended truck loads was astronomical, as the source for the sand was a 140 mile haul per load. You are lucky to have a source of good arena sand so close to you.
Interesting. Unless you are fixing a base or have a extra large arena, you likely do not need 10 truck loads for just footing.
I rehabbed my 20x 60 M outdoor and smaller indoor in the last couple years and found that a triaxle of sand (23 tons) makes quite a bit of difference as far as depth. You might be right that it may not change how the arena rides. But I have a feeling all the fine sand could mix into my concrete sand to make it a bit more stable.
Silica sand is soft and dusty, in my experience. Be careful w it. Ask the company if they have delivered to someone who will let you look at their arena.
Sounds as if you have already decided to go with a single load. Please come back later and post your results. Best wishes.
I would not choose to use that. I can’t imagine it being cheap either, I know here that it’s in the neighborhood of $20/ton, whereas my limestone manufactured sand (angular, good for arenas albeit a bit dusty) is around $7.50/ton.
Isn’t breathing in silica considered a health hazard? I don’t know if I would want this in my arena or around myself or horses.
So, now they are selling the bi product of fracking?
I remember all those anti-fracking campaigns about how horrible it is supposed to be…etc etc.
Im not sure id want my horse in frac sand but i might me biased from years of listening yo amti frack commercials on tv.
I don’t think they are selling sand that has been used for Fracking, just the same type of sand.
Sand, quartz, granite, are all silica based. SiO2 is even in dirt. The SHAPE of silica is what you want to avoid (asbestos), as well as as inhaling huge amounts of sand (silicosis).
You are inhaling silica right now.
This particular sand depot only sells this type of sand to the fracking industry, so this is sand that is mined and shipped into this area. It appears that they have silos of it near the local train tracks. It’s definitely not going to be cheap, but my alternatives of masonry sand are not cheap either because of trucking distance.
I’m not set on this idea yet, but trying to do some research. I’ve definitely wondered about the risk of silica dust inhalation but I also think many of the lovely arenas with white sand mixed with fiber use this same type of sand. I remember the arena contractor who rehabbed my arena said silica sand is top notch but typically not readily available in this area.
If combined with mag flakes to suppress dust and mixed with fiber, maybe this would be a good footing product?
All sand is silica except for a few places where it may be phosphate or sulfate based.
The only real differences between beach sand, masonry sand, fracking sand, are particle sizes and shapes. Your arena guy was making things up. Silicon (the metal that makes silica - the metal oxide that is rock and sand) is 30% of the earth’s crust and only behind oxygen in relative abundance. Any arena sand is silica sand.
That’s actually really helpful.
I don’t think my contractor was making things up, but just using the term “silica sand” as used in the industry. I’m not an expert, but I saw these websites selling silica sand describe it as follows: In order to be considered a silica sand the material must contain at least 95% SiO2 and less than 0.6% iron oxide. Perhaps it’s a term of art that is not entirely scientifically accurate.
This type of white sand mined from quartz that the industry (rightly or wrongly) calls silica sand is not widely available in my area. It’s supposedly stronger, which is why these fracking companies ship it across the country to these job sites. These footing websites reference silica sand in the type of sand recommended for certain fibers: https://premierequestrian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PremierEquestrian_Footing_and_Arena_Surfaces_Guide.pdf
Another call to this sand depot and I’ve learned a little more. This sand comes in different specs: 100 mesh and 40/70. However, it is somewhat rounded particles. Obviously, round particles are not what I want, but I’m going to go pick up some samples to take a look.
I can confirm that even though most of us understand all sand is silica, the very fine white sand used for glassmaking and fracking is always referred to as “silica sand” and that is what they mean, that white sand. It’s not a correct thing to do, but that’s what is done.
I know and as a materials guy it just kills me because it reads “sand sand” or “silica silica” to in my head. Just like there is a difference in steels (there are on the order of 2000 different types of steel) just saying something is stainless steel tells me nothing. There are about 100 different types of those. 
Like waitressing having had four years of French and people asking me for their sandwich, “with au jus.” 
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
