[gatewood]

The process of glassmaking involves the melting of sodium carbonate with silica and silicates (sand or more precisely, quartz), which functions as a flux to lower the melting point of sand to far more manageable temperatures (900-1200°C).

My question is this, how does sodium carbonate react with silica/silicates to lower its melting point? Does the sodium bind with silicates to create sodium silicate?

[Enthalpy]

It is my understanding that such temperatures destroy carbonates, releasing carbon oxides and leaving metal oxides.
The analysis of glass lists silica, sodium oxide, calcium oxide, but I guess they build silicates.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate#Glass_manufacture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda%E2%80%93lime_glass