Sand can be composed of many minerals, but quartz is
the most common. Many industries and homeowners use sand to accomplish a
variety of tasks.
Sand is generally defined as being coarser than silt and
finer than gravel. Silt is the sediment found in certain bodies of water and is
often smooth to the touch. When dry, it may resemble flour and it is slippery
when found wet. Gravel is composed of many small pebbles and rocks. Sand on the
other hand lies between these two extremes. It can be coarse or fine depending
on preference or location. The material naturally occurs all over the world,
though it is closely associated with desserts and beaches.
The exact composition of naturally occurring sands will vary
from location to location. Generally, quartz will make up the bulk of sand’s
minerals. Quartz is found in most rocks and is extremely weather resistant.
This allows it to survive the extreme conditions of dunes, bedrocks and beaches
more successfully than other minerals. Beaches and dunes tend to have the
highest quartz concentrations while the bedrock will usually have more variety
and a high percentage of angular grains. However, particles tend to be anywhere
from 0.0625 millimeters to 2.05 millimeters in diameter.
When people think of a pristine beach, they probably see
nearly white beaches and aquamarine waters. That particular type of sand has
high concentrations of limestone, which gives it that chalky look. Conversely,
the white sands of New Mexico have gypsum instead, though they are also famous
for a stark white hue. The pink sands found in the tropics have small pieces of
coral and shell fragments, which why they give off that soft cherry color.
Magnetite sands are dark or almost black, while green beaches derive from a
chlorite-glauconitic based composition.
Sand has many uses around the world. Industrialized nations
use various types of the material for agriculture and building materials.
Certain crops such as peaches, peanuts and watermelons do very well in sandy
soils. Dairy farmers also enjoy the optimal drainage benefits of sand-based
earth. Additionally, construction firms use large volumes of sand for concrete,
mortar and brick. Each of these products has a heavy sand composition. In fact,
it is a critical ingredient for these common building materials. Glass is also
made almost entirely out of heated grains.
Many homes use sand for landscaping or gardening purposes.
Sand gardens can be beautiful and tranquil additions to a backyard. Sand-based
soil can do well in some home gardens, though many parents use the relatively
soft material to fill sandboxes or designated children’s areas. Homeowners may
use the material to clean or polish the house via sandblasting. To learn more
about sand in Gilroy, please visit this website.
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