Sand Collecting -- the nitty-gritty

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The nitty-gritty on sand

For some people, sand is an inconvenience that gets stuck between one's toes and inside one's swimming costume. For others, it's something fun to build sand castles from, or to collect.

It's not something people think about a lot, but sand is everywhere. It's at the beach, in deserts, on riverbeds and at rocky shores. Depending on the location, sand can be created from a variety of minerals. The colour of the sand depends on the mineral or minerals in the sand. ... but more on that below!

 

What is sand?

A grain of sand 

Sand is a naturally occurring material composed of rock and mineral particles. A single particle of sand (a grain of sand) ranges in size from 1/16 mm to 2 mm. The next size up from a sand particle is called "gravel", while the next smaller size is called "silt". When handled, sand has a distinctive gritty feel.

The many colours of sand 

The colour of any particular grain of sand is determined by its chemical composition. The most common type of sand is made of silicon dioxide (usually quartz). These grains are clear or opaque.

White sand is formed from eroded limestone. Black sands are volcanic, as are green sands composed of olivine. In some areas, sand is primarily crushed seashells (calcite), which gives a pinkish cast.

 

Collecting sand

Why collect sand? 

A person who collects sand is called an arenophile. Each collector has their own reasons for collecting sand. Some are interested in geology. Others like to learn about the area of the world each sample has come from. Still others collect to meet other collectors around the world and learn about their cultures.

Getting started 

Start collecting in your own area. Sand is found around the world, so you should be able to find sand near your own home. Check the local laws on collecting samples, and ask permission to collect a sample from the land owner. Some areas may not allow the removal of local minerals without a permit.

Collecting samples 

When you collect a sample, get enough to trade with others. I like to carry around a plastic spoon for scooping and small zipper bags for storage. This provides plenty of sand for my needs, and extra to share. Once you have your sample (and this is important), immediately label the sample so you know which one is which. Some things to include on the label are the location from which the sample was obtained, the date of collection, and the type of sand (beach, desert, sand dune, etc.).

Once you take your sample home, some cleaning might be in order. I prefer to leave samples in their natural state, but other collectors like to wash them out to remove organic material. If you choose to wash it, be careful not to wash the entire sample down the drain! Before storing the sample, be sure that it is completely dry.

Storage and display 

It's important to decide early on how you would like to store your samples. If you choose a large container, you won't be able to display as many samples (and that's no fun). I display my samples in small glass phials, each labelled with a sample number corresponding to an entry in my ledger (see below). Tradeable extras are stored elsewhere in larger jars.

Tracking your collection 

Once you have more than a few samples, it's easy to forget which is which. So, for each sample, make an entry into a ledger or spreadsheet. Some things you might like to record include the sample number, location (including latitude and longitude, if you like), type of sand, sand colour, and whether there's extra to trade.

 

Looking for something for your sand collection?

Sand on eBay 

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eBay

 

Sand photos

Sand @ Flickr 

Handpicked by yours truly!

What a variety of colours sand can be found in!

white surf, black sand by van Ort

Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach by JBEwing

Perth Sand by catsper

Virgin Dune by Hamed Saber

sand dune algeria by albatros11

Sand and Stone by ccgd

Sand by Phillie Casablanca

sand dunes in sardegna by ezioman

001/366 - Green sand by Arria Belli

Green sands by lin padgham

curated content from Flickr

 

Further reading

 

Collectors' Corner

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Sand links 

Nitty Gritty
A personal sand collection.
Flickr: ~Sand~
A sand pool on Flickr.
Flickr: got sand?
Another sand pool on Flickr.

Leave your mark if you collect sand! 

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