Resin coated silica sand is comprised of weathered quartz – the most common

Resin coated silica sand is comprised of weathered quartz – the most common, natural mineral in the Earth’s continental crust. Unlike common sand which feels gritty to the touch, silica sand feels smoother as a result of the round spherical shape of the individual sand grains and narrower particle-size distribution.
The quality of the sand proppants is dependent on the yield from the sand deposit and processing efficiency the manufacturer.
The 40/70 grade is commonly used for high volume slickwater fracturing of unconventional horizontal gas wells such as those in the Barnett, Fayettevile, Haynesville and Marcellus shales.