This document discusses different types and properties of sand. It describes sand as a mixture of small rock and mineral particles between 0.06 mm and 2 mm in size. The main components of sand are quartz and feldspar. Sand comes in different colors depending on its mineral composition, and there are various types including river sand, sea sand, volcanic sand, and heavy mineral sand. Sand is classified based on particle size, with very fine, fine, medium, and coarse categories.

1. PREPARED
BY
ER.SANJEEV SINGH
SNJV432@GMAIL.COM

2. CONTENT
• WHAT IS SAND
• COMPOSITION OF SAND
• COLORS OF SAND
• DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAND
• CLASSES OF SAND

3. WHAT IS SAND
• Sand is a mixture of small grains of rock and granular materials which is
mainly defined by size, being finer than gravel and coarser than silt. And
ranging in size from 0.06 mm to 2 mm. Particles which are larger than
0.0078125 mm but smaller than 0.0625 mm are termed silt.
• Sand is made by erosion or broken pebbles and weathering of rocks, which
is carried by seas or rivers. And freezing and thawing during the winter
break rock up the sand will be made.
• Sometimes Sand on beaches can also be made by small broken-up pieces of
coral, bone, and shell, which are broken up by predators and then battered
by the sea, and or the bones of fishes or other oceanic animals. Sand can be
also considered as a textural class of soil or soil type. A sandy
soil containing more than 85 percent sand-sized particles by mass.

4. COMPOSITION OF SAND
• Sand is basically made of unconsolidated granular materials consisting of
either rock fragments or mineral particles or oceanic materials. It is mainly
made of silicate minerals and silicate rock granular particles.
• Typically quartz is the most dominant mineral here as it possesses highly
resistant properties to weather. Other common rock-forming minerals like
amphiboles and micas also found in sand. Heavy minerals such
as tourmaline, zircon, etc can also be present in the sand in smaller
concentrations. But from a high level, most sand on the beach is made up
of gray or tan quartz and feldspar.
• However, the most common mineral in the sand is quartz–also known as
silicon dioxide. This is formed when silicon and oxygen combine. Feldspar
is the most found group of minerals on the earth’s surface and forms about
65% of the terrestrial rocks. When the wind and sea whip up on the shores,
they transport these teeny-tiny granules to the beach and make up the
sand with this combination.

5. COLORS OF SAND
• White Sand: It’s made of eroded limestone and may contain coral and
shell fragments, in addition to other organic or organically derived
fragmental material is may find in this color of sand. Magnetite, Chlorite,
Glauconite, or Gypsum is also found.
• Black Sand: Black sand is composed of volcanic minerals and lava
fragments and Coral deposits.
• Pink Sand: Foraminifera, a microscopic organism that has a reddish-pink
shell, is responsible for all this color. Coral, shells, and calcium are also
found in this mix.
• Red-orange Color: This color is formed due to the coating of iron oxide.
• White-grey Color: This sand consists of fine rounded grains and It is
well graded.
• Light-brown Color: It consists of rounded grains.

6. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAND
• Gypsum sand: this types of same mainly consists of calcium sulfate
dehydrates.
• Glass sand: this types of sand mainly consists of silicon dioxide and this is the
main element in this type of sand.
• Silica sand: is almost pure quartz.
• Pit sand: obtained by forming pits into the soil
- it is sharp ,angular , porous , and free from harmful salts.
- clay and other impurities should be washed and screened before using
engineering purpose.
- fine pits sand , when rubbed between fingers, should not leave any stain on ot.
It indicates the presence of clay
• Immature sand: sand composed of the same minerals that made up its
parent rocks.

7. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAND
• River Sand: - Found at river beds and banks.
- Fine, round and polished due to rubbing action of water currents.
- Has less frictional strength because of roundness.
- Almost white in color.
- Grains are smaller than pit sand, and hence more suitable for plastering
work.
- Normally available in pure condition and hence can be used for all kinds of
Civil Engineering works.
• Green Sand: Have some greenish materials.
• Desert Sand: Which is found in the various desert.

8. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAND
• Sea Sand:- Obtained from seashores.
- Fine, rounded, and polished due to rubbing action of water.
- Light brown in color.
- Worst of the three types of sand because of containing a lot of salts.
- Salts absorb moisture from the atmosphere and cause permanent
dampness and efflorescence in the structure.
- Sea salt also retards the setting action of cement.
- Besides, it contains shells and organic matter which decompose in the body
of mortar and concrete and hence reduce their life and strength.
- Sea sand should as far as possible be discarded

9. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAND
• Biogenic Sand: Sand may be composed entirely of tiny skeletons —
seashells, corals, forams, etc.
• Garnet Sand: Garnet is a common mineral in the sand but sometimes it
forms the majority of it.
• Olivine Sand: This type of sand is very unstable. And it is mainly used for
steel casting sectors. But, it is a common sand mineral in some area and
sometimes makes up a major part of the sand.
• Volcanic Sand: Volcanically affected regions have their own type of dark-
colored sand with a different type of characteristics. And sometimes coal is
found in that.

10. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAND
• Heavy Mineral Sand: In this type of sand there are some high mass
molecule is found and can make a stable structure.
• Sands with Hematitic Pigment: Hematite is the mineral that provides
reddish pigment and sandstone.
• Continental Sand: This sand is a common whole over the world for the
formation of various structures.
• Quartz Sand: Quartz is the same as silicon sand. Mainly quartz or silicon-
dioxide is the main element to form this sand.

11. CLASSES OF SAND
• Depending on the particle grain size, the sand is divided into four classes:
1. Very coarse
2. Coarse
3. Medium
4. Fine-grained
• Classification of Sand According to Size (ASTM)
1. Fine Sand: All the sand particles should pass through No. 16 sieve. This is
usually used in plastering works.
2. Moderately Coarse Sand: All the sand particles should pass through No. 8
sieve. This type of sand is generally used for mortar and masonry works.
3. Coarse Sand: All the particles should pass through No. 4 sieve. This type
of sand is very suited for concrete work.