The invention relates to a method for the economic production of a blank for a component made from laser-active quartz glass in any form or dimension. The method comprises the following method steps: a) preparation of a dispersion with a solids content of at least 40 wt. %, comprising SiO.sub.2 nanopowder and doping agents, including a cation of the rare earth metals and transition metals in a fluid, b) granulation by agitation of the dispersion, with removal of moisture to form a doped SiO.sub.2 granulate of spherical porous granular particles with a moisture content of less than 35 wt. % and a density of at least 0.95 g/cm.sup.3, c) drying and purification of the SiO.sub.2 granulate, by heating to a temperature of at least 1000.degree. C. to form doped porous SiO.sub.2 grains with an OH content of less than 10 ppm and d) sintering or fusing the doped SiO.sub.2 grains in a reducing atmosphere to give the blank made from doped quartz glass.