Saudi Mining Opportunities: Tailings Sand Making

Process Guide Boosts Resource Utilization to 85%

In Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, the continuous expansion of construction projects and infrastructure investment has sharply increased the demand for high-quality construction sand. However, the scarcity of local natural river sand resources, coupled with rising prices year by year, has driven both the construction and mining industries to actively seek sustainable and economically viable alternatives.

Tailings sand making technology is emerging as an effective solution to this challenge. Tailings, the solid waste generated during mineral extraction and beneficiation, still contain reusable mineral components. Through scientific design and optimized processing, tailings can be transformed into high-quality manufactured sand that meets construction standards—reducing environmental risks while generating economic returns.

Core Advantages of Tailings Sand Making

Efficient Resource Utilization
With a well-designed process, tailings sand making can achieve up to 85% reuse rate, significantly reducing waste stockpiles.

Lower Construction Sand Costs
Compared to relying on imported river sand, localized tailings-based sand production can effectively lower procurement costs.

Support for Green Building and Environmental Compliance
Reduces tailings storage and dust emissions, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s green mining and sustainable development requirements.

Process Overview

The tailings sand making process typically involves the following steps:

• Raw Material Analysis: Testing for mineral components such as silica, iron, and aluminum to determine the most suitable sand-making equipment and process route.
• Crushing: Breaking down large tailings into sizes suitable for sand production.
• Sand Making & Screening: Using sand-making machines and vibrating screens to control particle shape and gradation, ensuring product quality.
• Washing & Dewatering: Removing stone powder and impurities to ensure sand cleanliness, meeting construction standards.

Application Prospects in Saudi Arabia

The potential of tailings sand making in Saudi Arabia extends beyond meeting domestic construction market needs—it can also serve road construction, precast concrete production, and various concrete manufacturing applications. With the government promoting green building policies, this technology is expected to see larger-scale adoption in the coming years.

Conclusion

The tailings sand making process presents new opportunities for Saudi Arabia’s mining and construction sectors. By applying scientific process design, companies can improve resource utilization efficiency while contributing to sustainable development, laying the foundation for both economic and environmental gains.