Abstract: In the disclosed method, granules or pellets are formed from meltable glass-producing mixtures which comprise sand and a sodium-containing component. The sodium-containing component consists at least partially of aqueous sodium hydroxide. The remainder of the sodium component may comprise sodium carbonate or other sodium salts or compounds. The glass-producing mixture may also contain other solid components customarily found in such mixtures. In accordance with the inventive method, the sand grains are treated with the aqueous sodium hydroxide at elevated temperature and without direct contact with CO.sub.2, whereby a surface layer of water soluble silicates is formed on the sand grains. The sand is then mechanically treated in order at least partially to dislodge or remove the water soluble silicates from the sand grains.