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selenium
united Kingdom summary 2000–2004
Commodity 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
96
Tonnes £ thousand
selenium
Imports
Elemental 521 436 434 563 969 1 810 1 760 2 070 4 048 5 317
Exports
Elemental 279 209 99 139 97 1 369 803 529 1 046 3 006
sepiolite
united Kingdom summary 2000–2004
Commodity 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Tonnes £ thousand
sepiolite
Imports (a) 80 538 (a) 65 062 (a) 69 691 (a) 55 483 51 044 ... ... ... ... 4 965
(a) Exports from Spain.
silica sand
Silica (industrial) sands contain a high proportion of silica (SiO 2) in the form of quartz and are used for purposes other than as
construction aggregates. They are essential raw materials for the glass and foundry castings industries, but also have a wide
range of other industrial applications, including in ceramics and chemical manufacture, for water filtration media, and in sport and
horticultural applications. Unlike construction sands, which are used for their physical properties alone, silica sands are valued
for a combination of chemical and physical properties.
Silica sand production in the UK has remained around four million tonnes per year for several years. Total sales increased to
more than five million tonnes in 2004. The significant increase in silica sand sales in 2004 is believed to principally reflect and
improved coverage of mineral workings rather than a marked increase in demand.Of total output in 2004, over 90 per cent was
produced in England, with almost all of the remainder from Scotland. However, with significant permitted reserves and identified
resources, Scotland may become of increasing importance as a source of silica sand for UK industry in the future. The major
producer is WBB Minerals, which accounts for over 50 per cent of total output and an even greater proportion of colourless
glass sand production. Foundry sand production has been declining for a number of years, reflecting the general decline in UK
manufacturing. However, glass sand production has increased somewhat in recent years due, in part, to the commissioning of
two new float (flat) glass plants. St Gobain of France operates one at Eggborough in Yorkshire and a further plant at Goole operated
by Guardian came on stream during 2003. Both plants are supplied from WBB Minerals’ colourless glass sand operation
at King’s Lynn in Norfolk, the latter by rail. WBB Minerals also supplies Pilkington’s float glass plants at St Helens from its site
at Chelford in Cheshire.
united Kingdom summary 2000–2004
Commodity 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Tonnes £ thousand
silica sand
Production (a) 4 095 000 3 848 000 3 833 000 4 073 000 5 011 000
Imports 33 209 46 500 104 232 78 944 79 808 6 489 6 624 13 020 9 646 9 840
Exports 28 796 54 419 39 816 51 095 166 844 3 779 4 809 5 250 3 577 5 210
(a) Silica sands for glass making, moulding and other non-constructional uses.