Introduction: Silica sand or quartz sand is mineral resource with wide varieties of applications; glass industry and construction are the most common example. Republic of Croatia has confirmed reserves of 40 million tons and long tradition of exploitation and processing. Average production of raw silica sand in Croatia is 150 thousand tons. This paper defines the procedure for life cycle assessment of silica sand exploitation and processing and gives a model of quartz sand life cycle. Environmental profiles of different processing options are calculated, and included in cradle to gate life cycle study of silica sand for glassmaking industry. Based on environmental profiles of different options, key segments of production process are identified and ranked. A guideline for choice of technology that includes direct and indirect environmental impacts at design level is given. Materials and methods. In this research eight alternatives of silica sand production process are designed. For the purpose of design, equipment and machinery database is generated. Designed inputs and outputs in production processes are checked for consistency with industry data. Life cycle assessment is performed using Sima Pro software. Life cycle impact assessment is performed using ReCiPe midpoint and endpoint method. Analyzed alternatives are: • Alternative 1: Surface exploitation (excavation) using bulldozers; transportation from excavation site to processing plant (3 km) using dumpers; washing and sizing; drying; electrostatic separation of feldspar, magnetic separation of magnetic minerals; road transport of dried silica sand (water content less than 1% mass) using lorry (truck) on transporting distance 100 km. • Alternative 2-1: Surface exploitation (excavation) using bulldozers; transportation from excavation site to processing plant (3 km) using dumpers; washing and sizing; road transport of wet silica sand (water content 6% mass) using lorry (truck) on transporting distance 100 km; drying in glass plant using waste heat. • Alternative 2-2: Surface exploitation (excavation) using bulldozers; transportation from excavation site to processing plant (3 km) using dumpers; washing and sizing; drying; road transport of dried silica sand (water content less than 1% mass) using lorry (truck) on transporting distance 100 km. • Alternative 3-1. Surface exploitation (excavation) using bulldozers; transportation from excavation site to processing plant (3 km) using dumpers; washing and sizing; flotation of mica, heavy minerals and feldspar; road transport of wet silica sand (water content 6% mass) using lorry (truck) on transporting distance 100 km; drying in glass plant using waste heat. • Alternative 3-2. Surface exploitation (excavation) using bulldozers; transportation from excavation site to processing plant (3 km) using dumpers; washing and sizing; flotation of mica, heavy minerals and feldspar; drying; road transport of dried silica sand (water content less than 1% mass) using lorry (truck) on transporting distance 100 km. Alternative 4-1. Surface exploitation (excavation) using bulldozers; transportation from excavation site to processing plant (3 km) using dumpers; washing and sizing; gravitation concentration of quartz; road transport of wet silica sand (water content 6% mass) using lorry (truck) on transporting distance 100 km; drying in glass plant using waste heat. • Alternative 4-2. Surface exploitation (excavation) using bulldozers; transportation from excavation site to processing plant (3 km) using dumpers; washing and sizing; gravitation concentration of quartz; drying; road transport of dried silica sand (water content less than 1% mass) using lorry (truck) on transporting distance 100 km. • Alternative 5. Simulation of surface exploitation and mineral processing outside the Croatia (data for sand production in Switzerland) and silica sand import by railroad transport on distance 700 km using EcoInvent database Among the analyzed alternatives the following alternatives have shown the smallest impact: “5” (simulation based on Ecoinvent data); “2-1” (silica sand production from high quality raw sand utilizing simple processing techniques such as sizing and washing ); “2-2” (silica sand production from high quality raw sand utilizing simple processing techniques such as sizing and washing plus drying in the rotary drier); “4-1” (silica sand production utilizing processing techniques such as sizing, washing and gravity concentration); “3-1” (silica sand production utilizing processing techniques such as sizing, washing and froth flotation). Intermediate impact have shown the alternatives “1” (silica sand production utilizing processing techniques such as sizing, washing, drying with grain surface conditioning using hydrofluoric acid, and electrostatic separation) and “4-2” (silica sand production utilizing processing techniques such as sizing, washing, gravity concentration and drying). The highest impact has shown the alternative “3-2” (silica sand production utilizing processing techniques such as sizing, washing, flotation and drying). Process contribution analysis has shown the major contribution following from using fossil fuels and water. Conclusion and recommendations. In silica sand processing the simplest mineral processing methods such as sand washing and classifying have the smallest impacts. When emissions of chemicals to environment are prevented or minimal, deciding factor between the processing alternatives has the water consumption. Second factor affecting significantly the environmental performance in silica sand processing is the fossil fuel use. In cradle-to-gate production process (including silica sand exploitation, processing and transportation) the fossil fuel use (and production) has the major impact on environment. Damage from electricity use (and production) is considerably lower. Transportation of naturally dried wet sand (w=6%) and drying using waste heat in glass factory is better option than drying in processing plant and then transporting it into the glass factory. Recommendations for lowering the environmental impact of silica sand at different production stages: • In surface mining: lowering the diesel consumption using mining machinery with good fuel efficiency per ton of produced sand and utilization of mining machinery with continuous working regime instead of cyclic (e.g. rotary or bucket excavator instead of bulldozer); • In sand washing and wet classifying: the use of efficient water collection, regeneration and recirculation systems • In flotation: the use of flotation reagents that can be easily separated from water (based on their phase) and/or recirculated back into the process. • In electrostatic separation: the use of highly efficient drying system. • In drying: lowering the fossil fuel consumption; utilizing as much as possible the gravitational dewatering and natural evaporation; drying using waste heat or other heat sources that cause less damage than fossil fuels.