WCO Explanatory Notes reproduced for reference. © World Customs Organization. Verify against official WCO publication.
25.05 - Natural sands of all kinds, whether or not eoloured, other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26. - Silica sands and quartz sands 2505.90 - Other 2505.10 With the exception of metal-bearin sands from which metals are commercially extractable $Chapter 26), this heading covers a I natyal sea, lake, river or quarry sand (i.e., sand in the orm of more or less fine artlcles resuhng from the natural dismtegration of minerals), but excludes sands and powcfers obtained artificially, for example, by crushing (classified in heading 25.17 or in the heading for the rock concerned). The heading covers, inter alia : (1) Silica sands and quartz sands, used in building, in the glass industry, for cleaning metals, etc. (2) Clayey sands including kaolinic sands, used mainly for preparing foundry moulds and reffactory products. (3) Feldspathic sands, used in the ceramic industry. Natural sands remain in this heading when they have been heat treated merely to remove impurities. On the other hand, this heading does not include gold-bearin or platinum-bearing sands, zircon sands, rutilc sands and ilmenite sands, nor monazite sands (monazite!) which are classified as thorium ores; all these fall in Chapter 26. Nor does the heading cover tar sands or " asphaltic sands " (heading 27.14).
1.- Except where their context or Note 4 to this Chapter otherwise requires, the headings of this Chapter cover only products which are in the crude state or which have been washed (even with chemical substances eliminating the impurities without changing the structure of the product), crushed, ground, powdered, levigated, sifted, screened, concentrated by flotation, magnetic separation or other mechanical or physical processes (except crystallisation), but not products which have been roasted, calcined, obtained by mixing or subjected to processing beyond that mentioned in each heading. The products of this Chapter may contain an added anti-dusting agent, provided that such addition does not render the product particularly suitable for specific use rather than for general use. 2.- This Chapter does not cover : (a) Sublimed sulphur, precipitated sulphur or colloidal sulphur (heading 28.02); (b) Earth colours containing 70 % or more by weight of combined iron evaluated as Fe O 2 3 (heading 28.21); (c) Medicaments or other products of Chapter 30; (d) Perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations (Chapter 33); (e) Dolomite ramming mix (heading 38.16); (f) Setts, curbstones or flagstones (heading 68.01); mosaic cubes or the like (heading 68.02); roofing, facing or damp course slates (heading 68.03); (g) Precious or semi-precious stones (heading 71.02 or 71.03); (h) Cultured crystals (other than optical elements) weighing not less than 2.5 g each, of sodium chloride or of magnesium oxide, of heading 38.24; optical elements of sodium chloride or of magnesium oxide (heading 90.01); (ij) Billiard chalks (heading 95.04); or (k) Writing or drawing chalks or tailors' chalks (heading 96.09). 3.- Any products classifiable in heading 25.17 and any other heading of the Chapter are to be classified in heading 25.17. 4.- Heading 25.30 applies, inter alia, to : vermiculite, perlite and chlorites, unexpanded; earth colours, whether or not calcined or mixed together; natural micaceous iron oxides; meerschaum (whether or not in polished pieces); amber; agglomerated meerschaum and agglomerated amber, in plates, rods, sticks or similar forms, not worked after moulding; jet; strontianite (whether or not calcined), other than strontium oxide; broken pieces of pottery, brick or concrete.