The invention relates to a molding mixture for producing casting molds for metalworking, a process for producing casting molds, casting molds obtained by the process and also their use. To produce the casting molds, a refractory mold raw material and a binder based on water glass are used. A proportion of a particulate metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide and zinc oxide is added to the binder, particular preference being given to using synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide. The molding mixture contains a phosphate as essential constituent. The use of phosphate can improve the mechanical strength of casting molds at high thermal load.