Quartz grains are agglutinated with silicic acid components, and are used as an element for glazes in the ceramics industry. Major production areas include Kawamata-cho, Date-gun, Fukushima Prefecture; Shijonawate-cho, Kitakawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture; Omishima-cho, Ochi-gun, Ehime Prefecture; Onada-cho, Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture; and Torigoe, Gifu Prefecture. The silica stone commonly known as Hinooka, produced in Hinooka, Yamashina, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, has long been used for making mezuna, raku ware glaze, and other products.
