The silica sands in the Hirschau-Schnaittenbach region were formed about 250 million years ago, during the Triassic Period. Mining of industrial minerals began in Schnaittenback in 1833 and in 1901 in Hirschau. In 1993 the two plants merged into the Amberg Kaolin Works (AKW), which became a subsidiary of Quarzwerke GmbH a few years later.

Although kaolin is the location’s best-known product, the mine also yields outstanding silica sands that are primarily used in the glass and construction industries. Due to the rare, coarse and yet very round structure of the grains, these sands are also used as filter sands – including applications for conditioning drinking water in the desert regions of Africa.

Index Quarz