Djebel Ouazzan · Tlemcen Province
Raw rock with silica flour
Santa Cruz extracts, processes and markets silica sand from the Djebel Ouazzan deposit — 30 hectares of high-purity siliceous sandstone, processed exclusively using mechanical water-based methods, without the use of chemicals.
Annual production
Geological reserves
Service life
Career
Our services
An integrated chain, from extraction to crushing
Six specialist trades carried out in-house at the Djebel Ouazzan deposit and the adjacent processing plant (7 hectares).
Mining of the deposit
Mechanical extraction open-cast mining at the Djebel Ouazzan deposit (EL GOR, Tlemcen) — 5-metre-high benches.
Licence No. 5908 PXM · March 2020
Washing with pure water
A purely mechanical process — removal of clay and undesirable substances. No chemicals.
Water recirculation by settling
Grading & drying
Particle size classification into three grades: Fine (50 %), Medium (30 %), Coarse (20 %). Controlled drying at the outlet.
10 µm to 3 mm · H₂O < 2 %
Silica grinding & flour
Production of ultra-fine silica powder in four particle size ranges: 20–32 µm, 45–63 µm, 75 µm and 100 µm.
Capacity 10 tonnes per hour · 64,800 tonnes per year
Contract washing
Sand washing service for third parties (Sand Washing Service) — installed capacity of 30 tonnes per hour or 60 tonnes per hour, depending on the variant.
Up to 241,920 tonnes per year
Packaging & Logistics
Storage in silos, dry bulk and big bags (15,000 units per year). Roads to the ports of Arzew, Oran, Mostaganem (220 km) and Ghazaouet (169 km).
RN 13, 60 m away · Railway line, 14 km away
Our process
From the quarry to the silos
Five fully integrated industrial stages spread across a 30-hectare quarry and a 7-hectare adjoining factory.
Step 01
Elimination
Removal of undesirable substances at the inlet to the circuit.
Step 02
Separation
Separation of fine particles from coarse particles.
Step 03
Classification
Classification of sands by particle size using calibrated sieves.
Step 04
Drying
Drying of the washed sand to achieve H₂O < 2 %.
Step 05
Shredding
Grinding to produce silica flour (4 micrometres).
«The treatment involves exclusively mechanical processes, using water and excluding the use of chemicals.»
Finished products
Three families, eight items
Washed sand, dried sand in three grades, silica flour in four particle sizes — ranging from millimetre-sized grains to sub-micron particles.
Family 01
Dried silica sand
50 % production
Fine Grades
Fine particle size — glassware, ceramics, paints.
30 % production
Medium Grades
Average particle size — foundry, mortars, filtration.
20 % production
Coarse Grades
Coarse grain size — construction, sandblasting, drainage.
Family 02
Silica flour
20–32 µm
Sub-micron — semiconductors, electronics.
45–63 µm
Ultra-fine — sodium silicate, insulating fibres.
75 µm
End — technical ceramics, paintings, wells.
100 µm
Standard — chemical manufacturing, insulation materials.
Department 03
Sand Washing Service
Contract sand washing service for third-party operators who do not have their own processing plant. Installed capacity ranging from 30 T/h to 60 T/h, depending on the operating configuration.
Max. capacity (60 tonnes per hour)
Sectors with high demand
The Algerian market in figures
Seven industrial sectors use silica sand in Algeria — global demand is set to rise from 339 to 433 Mt between 2023 and 2028 (+ 5 % per year).
Glass industry
Construction, automotive, telecommunications (fibre optics), renewable energy (photovoltaic cells, solar panels).
Request: Algeria
300–400 K tonnes per year
Building & Construction
White cement, grey cement, adhesive cement. Component of concrete, mortar and coatings. Tiles, single-layer.
Request: Algeria
160–200 K tonnes per year
Water filtration
Sand filters for drinking water, industrial water and swimming pools — strictly calibrated grain size.
Request: Algeria
15–25 K T/year
Foundry & Metallurgy
Manufacture of high-quality metal moulds and cores — thermal resistance and refractoriness.
Request: Algeria
10–20 K tonnes per year
Oil & gas
Drilling cement, hydraulic fracturing agent for gas extraction, well stimulation.
Request: Algeria
10–20 K tonnes per year
Chemistry & Mineralogy
Sodium silicate, metallic silica (silicon) for the electronics industry, solar panels and ingots.
Request: Algeria
7–8 K T per year
Additional sector
Paint industry
2–5 K T per year
Santa Cruz SARL — since 2002
Let’s get started with your project
Samples, bespoke quotes, technical advice — the Santa Cruz team is here to help with any enquiry. Operating licence no. 5908 PXM.
Head office: 216 flats, Block 21 – No. 431 USTO · Bir El Djir – Oran