silica and turns it into cristobalite which is pure white. There is also the


capability of milling either silica sand or cristobalite which produces very fine powders used in a wide variety of industrial applications and shipped worldwide.


Once the sands have been


processed into their respective grades, quality control tests are carried out to determine their particle size distribution (sieve analysis). Chemical analysis is also carried out. Oakamoor quarry is also the location of WBB Minerals Group Central Laboratory (GCL). The laboratories here not only analyse products from around the world but can replicate most quarry refining process/techniques available. Using a scaled down version of quarry plant and equipment, sand can be processed using spiral separators, screens,


attrition scrubbers, hindered settling tanks and other washing equipment. An important quality


control procedure for sands used in the glass industry is to test for the amount of iron in the sand. Higher amounts of iron can tint the colour of clear glass. X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) is used to determine the amounts of silica, iron, alumina and potash.


In the labs I met Sasha McCann, who is their Sports Surface Technologist. Sasha is responsible for managing all the testing programmes of sports and leisure related products manufactured by WBB Minerals. Sand and organic amended products are tested for particle size distribution (PSD), organic matter content, pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity (drainage), water retention, bulk density, particle density, air filled and water filled porosity and moisture content.


Bunker sands


are formulated and tested to meet the needs and requirements of the golf industry. WBB Minerals leading bunker sand grade, Moneystone Bunker sand, is produced


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