Silica supports having a surface area from about 250 m2/g to about 600 m2/g and an average pore diameter from about 45 Å to about 170 Å, used for supported tungsten catalysts, improves the activity of the resulting catalyst (i.e., its conversion level at a given temperature) for the metathesis of olefins, without compromising its selectivity to the desired conversion product(s). Exemplary catalysts and processes include those for the production of valuable light olefins such as propylene from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising ethylene and butylene.