all 98 comments

[–]bweekins 29 points30 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I think you'd like glass beach.

[–]letsfork 19 points20 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Oh. My. Giggity. As someone who collects sea glass, I just creamed my panties.

[–]Vee_Vee 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I like you.

[–]letsfork 3 points4 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Goowd.

[–]freezingman66 3 points4 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I think this is where you're supposed to say "let's fork"

[–]letsfork 5 points6 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Let's Fork.

[–]freezingman66 5 points6 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

OK, no, like... before... whatever, sounds good.

[–]IforgotwhatIwasdoing 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

If you fork me, I'll spoon.

[–]Cseal 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

it's all about sporking

[–]synapticimpact 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Just to let you know if you search for it theres another thread about glass beach and its pretty damn hard to get to apparently.. and also protected. Doesn't stop the locals, but yeah, there you have it.

[–]justaspeck 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I've been to glass beach twice (on Kauai). The first time I went there was a tractor tire sitting on the beach (because people threw trash there and that's why the glass deteriorated). The second time there wasn't anything on the beach. It's a really small beach but the sensation of walking in "glass sand" is awesome! I took a sandwich baggie full each time to use in decorating projects. I have some that I am going to use in a frame with my son's name actually. :)

[–]letsfork 4 points5 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

where is this place? How?

[–]bweekins 5 points6 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

It's in Fort Bragg, California. Here's the wiki.

[–][deleted] ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

[deleted]

[–]yuno10 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Yeah, it's amazing that there is a point when collecting litter becomes destroying an environment.

[–]letsfork 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Thanks!

[–]unclephilwasshredder 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Gave that beach some glass...beaches love glass.

[–]this_is_weird 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I'd go there with a shovel and buckets and only leave when I can't carry my load.

[–]foomp 6 points7 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Wouldn't that mean you'd have to leave your load there? I propose you leave right before you're unable to carry your load.

[–]this_is_weird 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

In-so-deed: only leave when I can't carry any more load is what I meant.

[–]genericusername123 41 points42 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Not sure where you get 250x from- this image is from here, with no mention of magnification. Nice photo, though.

[–]gliscameria 7 points8 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

That is a very impressive depth of field for 250x, and the colors/transparency seem impossible.

[–]genericusername123 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Actually if you look through the site, it explains how this is possible. The artist takes multiple pictures from different focal planes, and combines them into one image where everything is in focus, thus overcoming the usual depth-of-field limitations.

[–]gliscameria 3 points4 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I'm familiar with the technique, but I question the magnification.

[–]bon3s 5 points6 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

OP is a liar then.

[–]greevitamin 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

The caption says they are actually several different sands from different areas...one of them being Minnesota?

[–]OdinsBeard 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Kansas was once the bottom the ocean...

[–][deleted] ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

[deleted]

[–]NotCheGuevara 10 points11 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Link! Link! Link!

[–]Vee_Vee -2 points-1 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

No, they didn't.

[–]furgots 89 points90 points ago*

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

That is not standard beach sand. What "standard" grains of sand look like under a microscope

Edit: Edited to say "This is not what all sand looks like." (Some sand looks beautiful like this, other sand looks like what you'd expect -- round, beige, white and brown particles.) I was wrong to imply that there is a "standard" kind of sand.

[–]YoungZeebra 27 points28 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

He did say "Ocean" sand in the title. Not sure where you got the "Standard" from...

[–]neuromonkey 16 points17 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

"Sand grains from around the world are mixed together like a pouch full of gems. The sand grains are from Maui, Hawaii, Japan, California, Ireland, Bermuda, and Minnesota."

So. It's a standard Maui, Hawaii, Japan, California, Ireland, Bermuda, and Minnesota blend. Very common.

[–]Firstprime 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Ireland is completely isolated from all of the other countries by land on both sides, how the hell did it end up in the mix?

[–]neuromonkey 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Flying Irish Penguins.

[–]Firstprime 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Ah yes, I had almost forgotten those magnificent creatures. Unfortunately we finished them off a few years ago. Poor things, too delicious for their own good.

[–]neuromonkey 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

They were delicious with sauteed onions and a sprinkle of bleu cheese. Apparently, recent attempt to clone them have led to some promising culinary possibilities.

[–][deleted] ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

[deleted]

[–]neuromonkey 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

You know what else is exceptional? You. You are.

[–]jamonterrell 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Let me just put that in the commendations section... there's lots of room.

[–]ExdigguserPies 17 points18 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Whenever this image pops up there's always a dozen people shouting OHMYGOSH THAT IS NOT SAND.

The truth is that "sand" only means one thing - it's a grainsize classification. This means that anything made by natural processes which falls within this grainsize range is most definitely "sand". Yes, there are many many types of sand, but that is irrelevant with respect to calling this a picture of sand.

[–]Thants 4 points5 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

This means that anything made by natural processes which falls within this grainsize range is most definitely "sand".

Not quite. Organic matter, even if it meets these requirements, is not part of the mineral portion of soil and thus is excluded from soil texture classification.

In many labs, organic matter is completely oxidized off before performing a grain size analysis. It's a fun process. You make a slurry from the soil, bring it to near boiling, and pour in hydrogen peroxide in small amounts. Bubbles, stops, repeat.

[–]andrewsmith1986 3 points4 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Since when is CaCO3 not a mineral?

[–]Thants 1 point2 points ago*

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

It's worth noting that the definition of organic matter is kind of arbitrary but also has a specific meaning in soil science.

Seeing as how the carbonate is bound to an inorganic cation instead of something organic, I'd say that it is not an organic molecule in this instance. In addition, it clearly exhibits all of the requirements to be called a mineral (solid, crystalline, specific chemical and physical properties, etc).

In soil science, organic matter refers to (a) living biomass, (b) fresh detritus, and (c) decomposed detritus aka humus. All three are readily oxidized by agents like peroxide, dichromate, etc. Carbonate minerals, on the other hand, do not readily oxidize with this exposure. Soil organic matter has drastically different properties than the mineral portion of the soil, which is the reason why the distinction is made. It's the same reason why we have a differentiation between sand and clay or between calcareous and mollic soils.

Besides, the pedogensis of calcareous soils arguably does not include a time as biomass, even though it is produced by biologically processes. Carbonate shells are formed to protect the organism, but to my knowledge there is no biological function of the carbonate in the organism. That is to say, carbonates locked into the matrix of a shell do not serve as a functional group, but instead as a mineral component.

**I should mention that the first (Seeing...) and third (Besides...) paragraphs are quite arguable and are mostly rooted in my basic understandings of chemistry, mineralogy, and soil science. But the second paragraph (In soil science...) is pretty much a textbook explanation.

[–]andrewsmith1986 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Yeah, I don't have much of a background in soil science (geology degree with mainly low temperature geo-chemistry. ) so I was looking at it at a different view.

It just seemed odd to make such a statement.

[–]tha_ape 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

To MOST people, sand is what you find at the beach. (regardless of scientific classification)

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

It is reasonable to assume that people will take "sand" to mean going to a local beach, grabbing a fist of sand and throwing it under a microscope.

It is unreasonable to assume people will take it to mean "this is what a mix of sands looks like".

[–]ExdigguserPies 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Sand in this photo could easily come from a beach. It contains quartz and shell fragments.

[–]unpopularscience 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I came to this thread to downvote the first person who says "OMG THAT IS NOT SAND".

Thank you and everyone, DOWNVOTE THE SAND HATERS!!!

"Oh my, you sad uneducated rubes, sand is only minerals!" Of course, what the HELL are shells made of? Holy shit man, what the hell is the definition of a fossil? ARGH!!!!!!

[–]merlinm 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

None of those samples were beach sand but were in fact chosen because they were nonstandard. There is no reason to believe the OP's picture is not typical based on the evidence given.

[–]steamed__hams 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

not sure why i even click the comments when i know the top one will be proving OP to be full of shit.

[–][deleted] ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

[deleted]

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I'll be in my bunk.

[–]captain_hug 10 points11 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

The purple one looks like a corduroy dildo.

[–]neuromonkey 6 points7 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

It goes "schwffp schwffp" when you use it.

[–]Paleoram 4 points5 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Thats part of an urchin spine.

[–]jamesneysmith 3 points4 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

From the makers of the denim buttplug.

[–]goetzjam 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Mom purple sand is being a dildo.

[–]TenaciousBe 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I know a certain purple sand who's sleeping with mommy tonight!

[–]PessimusComposite 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Goddammit!

[–]qweasdzxc3000 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Awww there's a heart in the middle. :)

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

When it gets into your crack you can really feel the shapes.

[–]StabYourFace 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Aww, I love you too, OP.

[–]redjimdit 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

TIL the ocean is made of love

[–]wisewizard 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Stupid shitty sand, why don't you look this awesome all the time, if you did i wouldn't be so quick to wash you out of my chaffed arse crack.

[–]whatsthematter 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

It looks like love.

[–]Autoxer26 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

THEY'RE PRECIOUS JEWELS BETTY! I GOT YOU PRECIOUS JEWELS!

[–]Black_Acid_Devil 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

awwwww it's a widdle hawrt.

[–]ASeriousManatee 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I have it on good authority that the heart of the ocean is actually blue. Shopped?

[–]hookeslaw 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I guess that explains why you can't make clear glass out of melting ocean sand.

[–]epSos-DE 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Sort by color = Pure Profit

[–]Frankie4skins 2 points3 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

So sand is just ocean... shit?

[–]ExdigguserPies 8 points9 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Some sand is, yes. Other sand is river shit, or desert shit, or volcano shit. Sand is just geological materials of a certain grainsize.

[–]zanycaswell 5 points6 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Some of it is literally. Parrot fish eat coral and poop sand.

[–]therealflinchy 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

yeah, dirty sand, come to australia and you can find some 99% silica stuff :P

[–]ForumWarrior 0 points1 point ago*

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

If you can get past the 12ft long spiders, murderous razor toothed kangaroos, poison badgers, etc...

[–]therealflinchy 1 point2 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

them poison badgers sure are bastards.

[–]captain_apostrophe 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

*past

And you forgot the drop bears.

[–]Wildfire9 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Looks to be semi large particulates of Jasp-Agates and Carnelion, Shell and probably some basalt. Neat! :D

[–]ForumWarrior -1 points0 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Looks like someone threw a whole lot of trash in the ocean and the earth turned it into art.

[–]zozin 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Sand is overrated. It's just tiny, little rocks.

[–]ForumWarrior 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

I thought it would be interesting if there was a whole beach of smooth aspirin sized grains.

[–]Neoko 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

<3 To you too. =3

[–]arghnard 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Out of those is a tiny piece of shit.

[–]iFaRtRaINb0WZzz 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Enhance!

[–]crispypancake25 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

that's why it hurts my eyes

[–]zemuxx 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

[–]xoxoUT 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Just another reason to love the beach <3

[–]M7600 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

My god, it's full of .... sand.

[–]Tourniquet 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Rocks...got it.

[–]loveleigh 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Oh my gah.

[–]1025pwr 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Does this remind anyone else of a backdrop to one of the puzzles in I Spy ?

[–]AisFoolish 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Can you imagine the sand from jersey shore enhanced? Std specimens

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

as someone who did epibenthic sample sorting and taxonomy work for 5 years, it is pretty awesome to stare into a dissecting scope and move mountains of this stuff with tweezers. that size, the world is a beautiful and frightening place. here and here

[–]ShitBabyPiss 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Got to love when someone posts something like this then...GETS PROVED HORRIBLY WRONG ALMOST INSTANTLY!!! "said in really epic deep voice"

[–]foomp -1 points0 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

i read it in the "Welcome to the FUTURE!" guy from Futurama, if that works for you.

[–]ShitBabyPiss 0 points1 point ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

Nice.

[–]KamiCrit -1 points0 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

It appears as though one of those sand specs looks like a heart.

[–]Grimreaper023 -1 points0 points ago

sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted on

THAR BE JEWELS AND THAT THAR BEACH!