Sands-Arenology

Observations of Sand

Digital Microscopy - Upload photos

Create a subfolder for the location of your sand in the appropriate folder.  Upload four or more photos for each location, including a (1-3) 3 microscopic photos of the sand, (4) an aerial photo, and (5) a land-based scenic photo, and (6) a photo of the primary substrates from which the sand was formed. Label your folder and enclosed photos in a manner the following manner, substituting your specific location as appropriate.

Folder: Hana, Maui

Mapping

Topics

Premises

Inferences based upon analysis of Sand

Complete the following survey with regards to your sand sample.

Appearance of Sand

Grain Size

Sand is defined as: Small, loose grains of mineral, rock, or other naturally occurring material, with grain sizes between 1/16 mm and 2 mm.Design and print your own mm graph paper.  Plot Measure the average size of the particles in your sample by placing grains on this paper. 

Determine the type of sand in your sample using a set of sieves. Arrange the sieves with the largest screen size (#5) on top, decreasing screen sizes in order below to the closed bottom container. Measure a sand sample by volume or weight. Place the sample into the top sieve, cover and shake the entire set with a back-and-forth motion. The particles should separate into their respective sizes.

Motion of environment

How swift was the water or wind movement in the sand you collected?  Where rivers flow or waves surge, sand moves.  The stronger the water movement, the larger the sand grains that are carried and/or kept in suspension.

Origin

Plutonic (Granite) - Granite rocks include of several different minerals, but quartz – made of silicon dioxide is the most durable to erosion. Quartz is often clear. Depending on the degree of weathering, granite sand may also include light-colored grains of the mineral feldspar or darker grains of hornblende, mica or magnetite. Where you find quartz sands, there must be some continental rocks somewhere.

Volcanic Origin – Sands of volcanic origin tend to be black, red, or green.

Meamorphic Origin – Sands that are of metamorphic origin often have garnet, a purple rock. If you have purple in your sample, it may indicate a history of metamorphosis.

Rock classification

Use the following keys to identify the samples provided.  Put your answer in this survey. 

Live Form

Results

Summary

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