There are many different types of sand for many different purposes. Sand for silicon is the most expensive. Sands for construction tend to be very cheap. I don

There are many different types of sand for many different purposes. Sand for silicon is the most expensive. Sands for construction tend to be very cheap. I don't think glass is appropriately pure for silicon - but that would probably be the only application for sand where it could possibly be economical to manufacture rather than extract and process.