Sand crisis looms as world population surges

[wesleycrusher]

www.reuters.com/business/environment/sand-crisis-looms-world-population-surges-un-warns-2022-04-26/?utm_source=reddit.com

Sand is the most exploited natural resource in the world after water.



I have never once in my life thought about a "sand crisis" or thought of sand as a finite resource. It makes sense now that I read about it being exploited (like every resource on the planet). I guess I never really gave much thought to sand at all, besides beaches.

I told DH that "big water" has its hold on us in terms of resource concern. I remember seeing those PSA water conservation commercials on Nickelodeon when I was a kid. It makes sense in that as a kid you can "turn off the tap" but not much for kids to do about industrial sand use in their everyday lives.

[basilosaurus]

One of my Bahamian family members recently posted about the corp that has the sole contract to extract sand from their country. The sand is worth billions, most of which doesn't make it to the people. It's been likened to diamond mining in Africa. The corp has quite an illustrious history and not in a good way at all.

[shauni27]

I never once thought about this but it makes complete sense. I am already off to do more reading about this.

[Pom]

My first thought at the title was sand fracking. I've seen trucks lined up with sand as far as the eye can see with sand in TX. Just another shitty thing about oil & gas. Not too mention how much water the process consumes. Thanks for sharing.

[tacokick]

There is a woman on Tiktok who started her own glass recycling plant and she makes sand out of the glass for industrial use. It’s really interesting!

[clairebear]

There are several sand mines in my area. When I first noticed them, I was very much, Huh, I guess you would have to mine sand. It just never occured to me that sand was a valuable resource. At this point it seems like every resource is being exploited, just add this one to the list.  

[livinitup]

I saw a beautiful man made beach in Hawaii built by Marriott- it was huge, huge, huge. And the “joke” was that all of the sand was imported from Australia - so all of the beach goers were really on Australian land. All I could think was that if Hawaii sand wasn’t good enough for a beach resort, and we were moving this much sand all over the world, that the planet was screwed.

[wesleycrusher]

Apr 28, 2022 15:49:18 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I saw a beautiful man made beach in Hawaii built by Marriott- it was huge, huge, huge. And the “joke” was that all of the sand was imported from Australia - so all of the beach goers were really on Australian land. All I could think was that if Hawaii sand wasn’t good enough for a beach resort, and we were moving this much sand all over the world, that the planet was screwed.

A coworker of mine just got back from Hawaii last week and talked about this! He said that a tour guide told him that most sand there is imported because the beaches are volcanic rock. Which made sense to me, but admittedly I didn't research this to know if it is true. 

I know there are many touristy beaches that are constantly eroded due to tidal flow and they bring sand back in.

[basilosaurus]

Apr 28, 2022 16:47:41 GMT -5 wesleycrusher said:

Apr 28, 2022 15:49:18 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I saw a beautiful man made beach in Hawaii built by Marriott- it was huge, huge, huge. And the “joke” was that all of the sand was imported from Australia - so all of the beach goers were really on Australian land. All I could think was that if Hawaii sand wasn’t good enough for a beach resort, and we were moving this much sand all over the world, that the planet was screwed.

A coworker of mine just got back from Hawaii last week and talked about this! He said that a tour guide told him that most sand there is imported because the beaches are volcanic rock. Which made sense to me, but admittedly I didn't research this to know if it is true. 

I know there are many touristy beaches that are constantly eroded due to tidal flow and they bring sand back in.

Yeah. Much of Hawaii doesn't have that white sand travel brochures lead you to expect. Black and green sand are amazing and beautiful, but people want white (interpret that how you like because it is a running joke there). And there is definitely natural white sand, but it depends on location and season which tourists don't care about.

There's an island in Bahamas known for pink sand. Even internally it's illegal to take it although people of course do.

And beyond the monetary commodity the act of sand mining does massive damage in terms of erosion and wetlands etc

[Poppy]

For those that like podcasts, Planet Money did a fascinating episode on stolen beaches:

www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/07/13/628894815/episode-853-peak-sand

It's depressing. Definitely another reason to avoid excess concrete.


ETA: also, Hawaii does have some natural white sand beaches. They're actually made of fish poop (parrotfish eat coral and it helps them digest their food, then they poop out the particles which wash up on shore). www.rd.com/article/hawaii-beaches-fish-poop/

Another podcast (Every Little Thing) that talks about where sand comes from on various beaches: gimletmedia.com/shows/every-little-thing/49hw53w

Surprisingly varied sources!

[basilosaurus]

Apr 28, 2022 21:18:04 GMT -5 Poppy said:

For those that like podcasts, Planet Money did a fascinating episode on stolen beaches:

www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/07/13/628894815/episode-853-peak-sand

It's depressing. Definitely another reason to avoid excess concrete.


ETA: also, Hawaii does have some natural white sand beaches. They're actually made of fish poop (parrotfish eat coral and it helps them digest their food, then they poop out the particles which was up on shore. www.rd.com/article/hawaii-beaches-fish-poop/

Another podcast (Every Little Thing) that talks about where sand comes from on various beaches: gimletmedia.com/shows/every-little-thing/49hw53w

Surprisingly varied sources!

Specifically parrotfish. This is nothing new. However, what was once bycatch in local fishing has become a goal with parrotfish being goal and victim. Apparently they're good eats though I've never had.

Most sand is and has always been fish poop. We just grow up knowing this. It will never satisfy the billion dollar mining so is kinda moot. But I'm also passionate about ending parrotfish consumption. Lionfish, the invasive species in the Caribbean? Have at it! Please with extra helpings.