Silica sand has many other uses. Special grades of silica sand are used by the oil industry to pump down oil wells and into oil bearing strata to improve the flow of oil. It is used in agriculture as a food additive. In the chemical industry, cristobalite and high purity quartz is used to produce a range of silicon chemicals. (sodium silicate, silica gel, silicones and pure silicon). The latter is used to manufacture silicon chips essential for computers. Silicon products are used in the manufacture of cosmetics, detergents and pharmaceuticals.

Quartz and criatoballite forms of silica produced as silica flour are used widely in paints, plastics polymer compounds, rubber, sealants and adhesives. Silica flour provides resistance against abrasive actions and chemical attack essential qualities for products such as marine paints and exterior wall coatings.