Industrial Mineral and Sand Supply for Ankara, the Capital
Ankara, Turkey's capital and second-largest metropolis, consumes industrial minerals across a wide spectrum — from public investments to private sector projects, from the defense industry to rail transportation systems. With a multi-million population spread across 25 districts, demand for quartz sand, silica sand and filter sand in Ankara remains at a high level regardless of season. Say Quartz, with 35 years of experience under Kumsay Madencilik and a daily production capacity of 5,000 tons, offers a comprehensive product portfolio to meet the capital's intense demand.
Construction and Construction Chemicals Sector in Central Districts
Çankaya, Keçiören, Yenimahalle and Etimesgut are Ankara's most populous and most intensively developing districts. Thousands of residential, office and commercial buildings are constructed or renovated in these four districts every year. The construction chemicals sector is an integral part of this process: tile grout materials, adhesive mortars, dry-mix plasters, exterior cladding systems and floor screeds are product groups in which quartz sand is used as the primary raw material.
Say Quartz produces quartz sand in 12 different grain sizes from 100 microns to 32 millimeters, providing the granulometry required by each of these formulations. Fine-grained quartz sands are preferred in tile grout and plaster mixes, while medium-grain products offer aesthetics and durability in architectural molding production. Coarse-grained versions are used in floor screed and concrete admixture applications.
Ongoing urban renewal projects in Mamak and Altındağ create a two-way demand: sandblasting and surface preparation operations are needed for the demolition of old buildings, while architectural molding sand and construction chemicals come into play in new construction. Pursaklar, with its rapidly increasing population, is among the districts where new residential areas are most intensively developed, pushing up demand for building materials.
Sincan and Kahramankazan Industrial Zones
Sincan is home to Ankara's largest organized industrial zone. Metal foundry facilities, machinery manufacturers, automotive sub-industry firms and defense industry suppliers operate intensively in this area. Silica sand, the primary raw material for mold preparation processes in the foundry sector, is a material that directly determines the quality of cast parts with its fire resistance and thermal stability.
Say Quartz produces silica sand in 7 different granulometries from 15-25 AFS to 70-80 AFS, meeting the grain size specifications required by different casting methods (green sand molding, shell molding, investment casting). Industrial facilities in Kahramankazan also show similar levels of demand for foundry sand and silica sand.
Sandblasting and surface preparation operations are widely applied in the industry of both districts. Sandblasting sand is indispensable in surface preparation processes such as pre-paint preparation of metal structures, cleaning of weld seams, and removal of corrosion layers. The growing logistics and storage facility infrastructure in Akyurt also requires the use of industrial sand in both construction and maintenance processes.
Rail Network and Traction Sand
Ankara has one of Turkey's most advanced rail transportation networks. Metro lines, the Ankaray light rail system and suburban train lines serve hundreds of thousands of passengers daily. Traction sand used to improve braking performance in rail systems is a critical material that increases the coefficient of friction between the wheel and the rail so that trains can stop safely.
In winter months, moisture, ice and leaf residues on rail surfaces significantly reduce friction. Under these conditions, traction sand prevents wheel slip and shortens braking distances. The grain size, hardness and moisture absorption properties of traction sand must comply with specific technical standards.
Beyond rail systems, traction sand is also a significant consumption item as part of municipal services. The long duration of winter months in Ankara's harsh continental climate increases the risk of icing. Traction sand is regularly spread on steep streets and intersections in central districts such as Çankaya, Keçiören, Etimesgut, Mamak and Yenimahalle. Elmadağ's high altitude further extends the duration of icing in that district.
Drinking Water Treatment and Filter Sands
With a population approaching six million, the capital's clean water needs must be met with large-capacity, continuously operating treatment facilities. The filter sands produced by Say Quartz in 11 different types ranging from 0.4 mm to 32 mm are the core component of layered filtration systems in water treatment facilities. These sands ensure the removal of suspended solids, turbidity and organic load from water.
Treatment facilities in districts relatively close to the city center, such as Gölbaşı, Çubuk and Elmadağ, are expanding their capacity in parallel with population growth. Municipal-scale treatment facilities also use filter sand in more distant centers such as Polatlı, Haymana, Bala and Şereflikoçhisar. Polatlı is one of Ankara's districts with the largest surface area, and its large agricultural areas also create a need for filter sand in irrigation filtration.
Kızılcahamam and Çamlıdere are districts rich in natural water sources and forest cover. Water treatment systems in these regions use complementary materials such as hydroanthracite, activated carbon and garnet alongside filter sand. Beypazarı is known nationwide for its naturally mineral-rich waters, and investments in the water sector continue there as well. The municipal water treatment units in Nallıhan, Güdül and Ayaş are smaller in scale but require the same filter materials. Similar levels of drinking water treatment infrastructure exist in Kalecik and Evren as well, and all of these facilities periodically need filter media replacement.
Sports Facilities, Artificial Turf Fields and Recreation Areas
Ankara's large population also brings with it demand for sports facilities and recreation areas. There are numerous artificial turf facilities throughout all central districts, especially Yenimahalle, Etimesgut and Sincan. The grain size homogeneity, roundness and abrasion resistance of products used as artificial turf sand are determining technical parameters for both player safety and field longevity.
Sands used for children's parks and playgrounds are produced in compliance with hygiene and safety standards. Recreation areas in Gölbaşı, landscaping around thermal facilities in Haymana and sports complexes in Polatlı also benefit from similar product groups.
Premium White Quartz and Advanced Material Applications
Ceramics, glass and advanced materials production facilities operating in Ankara, as well as university laboratories, require high-purity quartz products. Say Quartz's premium white quartz series consists of 11 different products ranging from 0-63 microns to 15 millimeters. This series offers an ideal choice for industrial applications requiring high purity and for research purposes.
Reliable and Continuous Supply to Ankara with Say Quartz
The strong road connection between Çorlu/Tekirdağ and Ankara enables fast and efficient logistics planning. With a daily production capacity of 5,000 tons, Say Quartz can provide regular supply to all 25 districts of Ankara — from Altındağ to Şereflikoçhisar, from Çankaya to Nallıhan, from Sincan to Bala.
- Quartz sand for construction, construction chemicals and architectural molding production (12 different grain sizes)
- Silica sand for foundry, molding and metal industry (7 different granulometries)
- Filter sand for water treatment facilities and filtration systems (11 different types)
- Traction sand / rail sand for rail systems and road de-icing
- Special sands for artificial turf fields, playgrounds and landscaping
- Premium white quartz for applications requiring high purity (11 products)
- Complementary filter media: hydroanthracite, activated carbon, garnet, basalt, calcite
Contact Say Quartz for technical consultation, product information and a price quote for your projects in Ankara. Phone: +90 532 261 45 85 | E-mail: info@sayquartz.com | Web: www.sayquartz.com