Australian Companies Making Big Money Selling Sand - To Saudi Arabia

[matcom]

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A GROUP of Australian companies is exporting the impossible – they are selling sand to Saudi Arabia.

The construction boom in the desert nations of the Middle East has created a demand for raw materials, and the region has become a new export destination for Australian businesses.

Perth's GMA Garnet will this month send a shipment of heavy mineral sand to Saudi Arabia for sandblasting, a high-pressure technique to smooth and clean hard surfaces in buildings.

Managing director Torsten Ketelsen said the special alluvial sand is suited for sandblasting because it is free of silica, which creates dust that can cause lung cancer and silicosis in workers.

"The Australian garnet sand that we are exporting has unique characteristics including very high hardness and durability which is perfect as an industrial abrasive and for ultra-high pressure waterjet cutting applications," Mr Ketelsen said.

The company has set up its bulk handling and reprocessing plants in Jebel Ali and more recently in Jubail, in Saudi Arabia.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21887764-5006009,00.html