Direct Mined, Industrial-Grade Minerals and Silica Sand Products
MS Industries specializes in a wide array of mined materials, including silica sand, whole-grain microproppants, silica flour, and metakaolin clay.
We’re proudly based out of Russellville, Alabama and all of our products are always mined in America.
MS Industries is an Alabama-based mining research and development company providing high-grade industrial silica sand products that are mined in safe working conditions. Our skilled geologists and laboratory professionals ensure our products meet the highest quality standards in the industry. With varying formulations and consistencies available, our offerings can be specially customized to suit a range of applications.
Our sustainably mined industrial silica sand products include metakaolin, silica, flour, clay, and oil & gas proppants. We also manufacture specialty products for the cosmetic, health, and beauty industries, including facial masks, body creams, body scrubs, and cosmetics.
Whole Grain Silica
MS Industries’ whole grain silica products are meticulously analyzed by lab professionals to ensure consistent chemistry, sizing, and color. They can be supplied in different varieties and mesh sizes (-40+70, -70+200), and can be requested in either wet or dry form. Whole grain silica is used for a range of applications, from construction and concrete to recreation and turf. When you order whole grain silica from MS Industries, you receive a carefully customized product that meets the highest quality standards. Upon request, we can also provide detailed information regarding the analytical methods used to evaluate the final product.
Our whole-grain silica products have the following general properties:
- High purity (> 99% SiO2)
- Low moisture (< 0.25%)
- Sub-rounded particle shape
- Inert pH 7.0
- High temperature resistance
Silica Flour
Silica flour, also called ground silica or micronized silica, is often used in high-pressure and high-temperature applications such as those encountered in deep oil wells. For example, it is commonly used to establish scheduling predictability for thickening in oil wells. It also enhances the structural integrity and life of oil wells. Further, it can be incorporated into rubber and plastic parts to increase their strength and durability.
At MS Industries, our silica flour products are carefully evaluated to ensure the highest levels of quality. With our new state-of-the-art silica flour facility, we provide superior-grade silica flour offerings to numerous industries, from oil, gas, and fracking to medical and food. Available in -200 and -325 mesh sizes, our silica flour has the following general properties:
- High purity (> 99% SiO2)
- < 0.25% Fe203
- Low moisture (< 0.25%)
Metakaolin
Metakaolin is primarily used as an additive to enhance concrete performance. It improves the strength, impermeability, durability, and hydration of concrete while reducing the risk of alkali-silica reactions. Metakaolin-strengthened concrete is commonly used for constructing bridges, dams, and other structures requiring high-strength and lightweight building materials.
By performing extensive quality control testing, MS Industries can provide metakaolin products that meet the highest levels of quality and consistency. A few of the industries benefiting from the use of metakaolin include:
- Agriculture: Metakaolin can be used as a diluent/carrier for some pesticides.
- Oil, gas, and petroleum: Metakaolin tolerates high pressures and temperatures and is often used to reinforce oil wells and drills.
- Building and construction: Metakaolin enhances the strength and durability of concrete while giving it a sandy yellow hue.
Expanded Clay
MS Industries’ expanded clay growth media is derived from red kaolin clay and specially modified to achieve a neutral pH balance for plants. These small clay pebbles enhance root health and improve aeration, making them ideal for hydroponics, gardening, and field conditioning. Our strict internal quality control standards ensure that the clay’s composition has been perfected to optimally support plant growth. In addition to promoting growth, these attractive red pebbles also boost the aesthetic appeal of garden beds and landscaping projects.
Our pebbles are supplied in a variety of sizes, allowing customers to select the ideal size and surface area according to the needs of their particular project. Depending on the project’s scale, expanded clay pebbles can be ordered in bulk, super sacks, or 40-pound bags.
Specialty Products
Mineral-rich clay compounds are incorporated into hair and skin products to boost their cleansing, exfoliating, and rejuvenating properties. MS Industries mines and produces a range of minerals that are used to enhance cosmetic, health, and beauty products, including:
- Facial masks
- Body creams
- Cosmetics
- Body scrubs
We supply different types of naturally occurring clays, each with its own unique cosmetic or health benefits. Our red (kaolin) clay pulls oils and impurities from the skin and gives products a distinctive red color. We also supply black (illite) clay, which dries skin and removes impurities. Additionally, we have the ability to uniquely customize our clay products for the beauty industry by infusing them with precious metals such as gold, silver, or platinum.
Oil Proppants
A proppant is a solid gritty material, usually sand grains or man-made ceramic particles, that is mixed with fracking fluid during the hydraulic fracking process to hold fractures open. Microproppants are shown to increase oil outputs and prolong the life of oil/gas wells. MS Industries supplies two different grades of Alabama-mined whole grain frac sands, each of which is carefully prepared and screened to size. Our proppants meet ISO 13502-2 and API RP 19C specifications for:
- Acid solubility
- Turbidity
- Krumbein shape factors
- K-values
These reliable and high-purity proppants are perfectly suited for meeting the demands of the oil and gas industry and can be used in multiple stages of the fracture stimulation process. Also, the K-values for microproppants with particle sizes finer than 140-mesh are typically greater than 9K, providing a superior crush resistance relative to ground silica flour.
Contact Us for Your Silica Sand Needs
At MS Industries, we supply high-purity whole grain silica, expanded clay, metakaolin, silica flour, and other specialty minerals directly from our mines. With our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced team of scientists, we ensure that each product is carefully analyzed for consistency, purity, and quality. All of our natural products can be specially prepared and customized to support a wide range of industries, from oil and gas to beauty and cosmetics.
In addition to our high quality standards, we are also committed to providing safe and ethical working conditions for our employees. Furthermore, we take steps to incorporate environmentally responsible working practices into all of our mining processes.
For more information about our mining capabilities and industrial silica sand products, contact us today or request a quote.
