The next frontier: transforming zimbabwe’s silica sand into smart technology

Abstract

High-purity silicon is the cornerstone of modern electronics and solar technologies. This study investigates the potential of Zimbabwe’s silica sand as a source of raw material for semiconductor-grade silicon. Samples from Mkoba, Gweru were analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) to determine elemental composition and impurity levels. Results show high silica content of 92.38 % with trace impurities such as iron, aluminium, magnesium, calcium and titanium. The findings indicate that, with appropriate purification processes, Zimbabwe’s silica sand can serve as a viable feedstock for local semiconductor production and technological development.