Free background image for websites and blogs made of multi-colored gemstone-quality sand from a beach in Vancouver

Have you seen a collection of unpolished or uncut gemstones of all varieties?

Perhaps, the above question, or a look at the photograph here gives you the impression that the photo shows a collection of gemstones such as agate, amethysts, cat’s eye, diamonds, hematite, jasper, lapis lazuli, obsidian, pyrite, quartz, ruby, tourmaline and turquoise. Also, compare the photo (click on it and enlarge) with the photo of gems and jewels here.

You are right in a sense, and wrong in another sense. I will explain why you are wrong first. And then tell you why you are right. Funny? Yes, read on!

What you see on the picture is SAND! Yes, a close-up photo of sand found on a beach in Vancouver (the area covered by the photo is approximately between one to two square centimeters only). Hence, you are wrong.

Do the sand particles look like rare precious gems or semi precious stones as named above? Or, is there anything common between sand and precious stones? Yes, there is.

Chemically they can be the same if individual particles of sand are compared to the relevant gemstones such as tanzanite, rubies, aquamarine, amethyst, cat’s eye, diamonds, quartz, etc., and even pearls, though pearls are not gemstones, but they are organically developed within certain types of mollusks, typically around a particle of sand. You are right for this reason.

Additionally, some of the gemstones are found in sand and collected from sand, especially from river sand. For instance, cat’s eye and some other precious stones are found in the sands of some African rivers, Indian rivers, and some others. While larger pieces of gemstones are identified and collected from river sand by trained people, several very tiny gemstones are left behind in the sand.

Sand is nothing but finely fragmented rocks and minerals. Initially large rocks break up due to weathering and a variety of other reasons like extremes of temperature, growth of vegetation, freezing of water in crevices, etc. or violent natural activities like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, etc.

Broken large rock pieces roll down and they are fragmented further. Then they are carried by flow of water to rivers. While they are transported like this, large boulders get divided again and again till they are reduced to sand particles.

Sand is generally carried from one place to another by wind and water and deposited in the form of sand on beaches, sand dunes in deserts, etc.

The major component of the earth’s crust is silica (Silicon Dioxide, SiO₂), which is the basic component of sand. You will be surprised to know that the continental crust of the earth has 60.2% of silica and the oceanic crust accounts for 48.6% of silica.

Typically sand, the finely divided rock and mineral particles, has a highly variable composition. The most common constituent of sand in inland regions and non-tropical coastal regions is silica, usually in the form of quartz. From the point of view of geologists, sand particles can have diameters varying from 0.0625 millimeters (or 62.5 micrometers) to 2 millimeters.

As the color of their richer cousins, the gemstones, is caused by the component chemical compounds or elements, the color of sand is also impacted by the chemicals or minerals present in them. The bright white sands are finely fragmented limestone and they may also have coral and shell particles. Similarly arkose sand or sandstone has considerable presence of feldspar.

Dark or black sands are rich in magnetite, as in the case of sands formed from volcanic basalts and obsidian. Sands in which chlorite-glauconite contents are present are green. Most of the sands found in southern Europe can be in deep yellow color because of iron impurities within the quartz crystals. Some sand deposits can also contain garnets, and some small gemstones, showing colors of those gemstones.

Sand, especially river sand, is a great commercial product too. With concrete jungles replacing natural dwelling places of humans, and with lots of huge dams and other infrastructures like roads being built every day, sand-mining has acquired the status of a major money-spinning industry, though it destroys aquatic ecosystems and natural habitats.

And sand is the main component of glass, another big industrial product, and glass once used to be as precious as gemstones, as it was one of the first commercial product developed by human beings.

Note: This is a free photo that can be used as a very nice background for websites, blogs, etc. with or without modifications. Click on the photo to view the full size. If you need larger background images or high resolution public domain photos for free, feel free to contact us.