making operation. • Sands are sometimes referred to as natural or ... (Mg,Fe) SiO4]. Silica sand is used primarily because it is readily available and inexpensive. • Quartz undergoes a series of crystallographic transitions as it is heated. The first, at 573 °C, is accompanied by expansion, which can cause mold spalling. Above 870 °C, quartz transforms to tridymite, and the sand may ...