Sand

Dear Lilliputian , 

If we had super duper eyes we could see what the tiny grains of sand really look like. To us sand looks like each little speck is the same shape as the next speck of sand . . . but if we could really see what those tiny specks look like they would be all different shapes , sizes , and most of the time even different colors . Most of what sand is, is rock that has been crushed as it traveled to the beach , but sand is not just crushed rock . The photo up above was taken with a very powerful machine that can see what our eyes can not . This machine can see that the pieces of sand are all very different . Some grains of sand are not pieces of rock but a very tiny shell , or a piece of lava , or even a piece of  coral.  When we look at sand with our eyes it looks like the sand below .

Those of you who know me know that I collect sand from all over the world . . .

These are four samples of sand collected from Maui , Florida , and Bermuda . If you click on the photo to get a closer look you will see that the first test tube of sand has pink grains of sand in it and it is from Bermuda . The next test tube has sand from an island called Maui that has a volcano on it and the sands from there can be black . The fourth sand sample is also from Maui and it has black and red grains of sand in it with white and orange also . . . 

The white sand is from Florida . 

Sand is not only colorful it can be quite noisy . On the North Shore of Massachusetts there is a beach called The Singing Beach because when you walk on it the sand squeaks and if you walk fast I guess it could sound musical . There are beaches that are known to sing , and some whistle , some even boom and others bark , and there is a beach that is suppose to sound like a frog . Scientists have not been able to solve this mystery of why a beach might boom and another might bark . But I think it makes sand all the more wonderful , don't you ?

Oh ! . . . One more interesting thing about sand . It isn't just rock , or coral , or lava from a volcano . . . it can some times be gems or jewels . There is a beach in Massachusetts on Plum Island that has a sort of purple colored beach sand because there is a purplish gem called Garnet in the sand . I have also read that some beaches have Gold in its sand and in Africa sometimes Diamonds . 

Plum Island sand

So this Summer when you go to the beach I want you to lay on your tummy and look very closely at the sand . Who knows what you might see . And it makes me wonder what your sand castles are really made of ? ? ? 

I think you may have fun reading a picture titled Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig .

Until next time ,

Wildbee