Apr 28, 2022 05:14 PM
Yes, common instances of non-specialized sand may be abundant, but such is also devoid of commercial value.
Seven types of (useful?) sand: https://trekbaron.com/types-of-sand/
- - - - - -
The world is running out of sand, scientists lament
https://futurism.com/the-byte/world-running-out-of-sand
EXCERPTS: The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is warning that the world is facing a “sand crisis.” The global demand for sand, the precursor for popular materials including glass and concrete, has surged over time thanks to increased urbanization and growing populations.
In fact, according to a new report by the UNEP, we could build a wall that’s 88 feet wide and tall around the entire planet using the amount of sand the globe uses in one year. But its use is still almost entirely unregulated, Reuters reports — despite it being the second most used resource worldwide after water — with the UNEP warning that we’re consuming it much faster than the natural process that creates it... (MORE - missing details)
- - - - - - - -
Wikipedia: Only some sands are suitable for the construction industry, for example for making concrete. Because of the growth of population and of cities and the consequent construction activity there is a huge demand for these special kinds of sand, and natural sources are running low.
Large list of sand uses: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand#Uses
- - - - - - - -
Desert sand: either useless or a desperate poor option for construction
https://www.basf.com/global/en/media/mag...upply.html
EXCERPT: . . . Meanwhile, the sand from the surrounding deserts remained untouched. “Desert sand simply cannot be used as a building material,” says Oliver Mazanec, head of Product Management at BASF Construction Solutions. The wind sweeps it up and blows it away. The grains become small, smooth, and uniform. The result: “The grains of sand do not mesh and cavities form in the fresh concrete. This significantly increases the amount of water needed when mixing cement, which adversely affects the strength of the concrete.”
Extremely rough edges are required for construction work. But this type of sand can only be found in quarries, riverbeds, and the ocean – with negative consequences for the environment. According to UNEP estimates, three out of four beaches could simply vanish in the future. This is due to the raw material being mined directly on beaches, which is often illegal, and because beaches are slipping as sand is being drawn off the seabed. Entire islands in Indonesia, for example, have already fallen victim to this phenomenon. The power of the waves also makes sure that sand drifts away. But there are also shortages inland. Easily accessible deposits of high-silicon quartz sand are slowly being depleted... (MORE - missing details)
- - - - - - - -
High-quality sand is in short supply
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-ch...23334.html
EXCERPT: Sand, in its many varieties, is a component in numerous materials that we take for granted, from construction to cosmetics, from food to electronics. When mixed with gravel and bound with cement, sand becomes concrete. When mixed with bitumen, sand becomes asphalt. When heated, sand becomes glass, and when pumped from the seabed in vast quantities it becomes the reclaimed land used to expand sprawling coastal cities like Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. It is no exaggeration to state that sand and gravel constitute the backbone of the modern world... (MORE - missing details)
Seven types of (useful?) sand: https://trekbaron.com/types-of-sand/
- - - - - -
The world is running out of sand, scientists lament
https://futurism.com/the-byte/world-running-out-of-sand
EXCERPTS: The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is warning that the world is facing a “sand crisis.” The global demand for sand, the precursor for popular materials including glass and concrete, has surged over time thanks to increased urbanization and growing populations.
In fact, according to a new report by the UNEP, we could build a wall that’s 88 feet wide and tall around the entire planet using the amount of sand the globe uses in one year. But its use is still almost entirely unregulated, Reuters reports — despite it being the second most used resource worldwide after water — with the UNEP warning that we’re consuming it much faster than the natural process that creates it... (MORE - missing details)
- - - - - - - -
Wikipedia: Only some sands are suitable for the construction industry, for example for making concrete. Because of the growth of population and of cities and the consequent construction activity there is a huge demand for these special kinds of sand, and natural sources are running low.
Large list of sand uses: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand#Uses
- - - - - - - -
Desert sand: either useless or a desperate poor option for construction
https://www.basf.com/global/en/media/mag...upply.html
EXCERPT: . . . Meanwhile, the sand from the surrounding deserts remained untouched. “Desert sand simply cannot be used as a building material,” says Oliver Mazanec, head of Product Management at BASF Construction Solutions. The wind sweeps it up and blows it away. The grains become small, smooth, and uniform. The result: “The grains of sand do not mesh and cavities form in the fresh concrete. This significantly increases the amount of water needed when mixing cement, which adversely affects the strength of the concrete.”
Extremely rough edges are required for construction work. But this type of sand can only be found in quarries, riverbeds, and the ocean – with negative consequences for the environment. According to UNEP estimates, three out of four beaches could simply vanish in the future. This is due to the raw material being mined directly on beaches, which is often illegal, and because beaches are slipping as sand is being drawn off the seabed. Entire islands in Indonesia, for example, have already fallen victim to this phenomenon. The power of the waves also makes sure that sand drifts away. But there are also shortages inland. Easily accessible deposits of high-silicon quartz sand are slowly being depleted... (MORE - missing details)
- - - - - - - -
High-quality sand is in short supply
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-ch...23334.html
EXCERPT: Sand, in its many varieties, is a component in numerous materials that we take for granted, from construction to cosmetics, from food to electronics. When mixed with gravel and bound with cement, sand becomes concrete. When mixed with bitumen, sand becomes asphalt. When heated, sand becomes glass, and when pumped from the seabed in vast quantities it becomes the reclaimed land used to expand sprawling coastal cities like Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. It is no exaggeration to state that sand and gravel constitute the backbone of the modern world... (MORE - missing details)