This dataset provides friction data from ring-shear tests (RST) for a quartz sand (type “G23”). This material is used in various types of analogue experiments in the Helmholtz Laboratory for Tectonic Modelling (HelTec) at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam for simulating brittle rocks in the upper crust (e,g. Kenkmann et al., 2007; Contardo et al., 2011; Reiter et al., 2011;Warsitzka et al., 2013; Santimano,et al., 2015; Warsitzka et al., 2015; Ritter et al., 2016; 2018 a,b). The material has been characterized by means of internal friction coefficients µ and cohesions C. According to our analysis the material shows a Mohr-Coulomb behaviour characterized by a linear failure envelope and peak, dynamic and reactivation friction coefficients of µP = 0.73, µD = 0.57 and µR = 0.65, respectively. Cohesions C are in the order of 10 – 120 Pa. The material shows a minor rate-weakening of <1% per ten-fold change in shear velocity v. Further information about materical characteristics, measurement procedures, sample preparation, the RST (Ring-shear test) and VST (Velocity stepping test) procedure, as well as the analysed method is proviced in the data description file. The list of files explains the file and folder structure of the data set.