Sports and leisure uses of silica sand have become increasingly important in recent years. These uses combined with horticultural uses accounted for some 17% of sales in 2004.

The sand is used for equestrian surfaces such as all weather race tracks, golf bunkers, synthetic football pitches and as play sands. It is used, blended with organic matter for top dressing and root zones for sports surface construction such as football pitches and golf course greens and tees. Colour, cleanness and consistency of grading are essential characteristics fort these uses. The correct grading and sand grain shape is critical for sports surfaces in order to facilitate their free draining.