Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. It is defined by size, being finer than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of soil or soil type; i.e. a soil containing more than 85% sand-sized particles (by mass).
The composition of sand varies, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal settings is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO2), usually in the form of quartz. The second most common type of sand is calcium carbonate, for example aragonite, which has mostly been created, over the past half billion years, by various forms of life, like coral and shellfish. It is, for example, the primary form of sand apparent in areas where reefs have dominated the ecosystem for millions of years like the Caribbean.
In terms of particle size as used by geologists, sand particles range in diameter from 0.0625 mm (or 1⁄16 mm) to 2 mm. An individual particle in this range size is termed a sand grain. Sand grains are between gravel (with particles ranging from 2 mm up to 64 mm) and silt (particles smaller than 0.0625 mm down to 0.004 mm). The size specification between sand and gravel has remained constant for more than a century, but particle diameters as small as 0.02 mm were considered sand under the Albert Atterberg standard in use during the early 20th century. A 1953 engineering standard published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials set the minimum sand size at 0.074 mm. A 1938 specification of the United States Department of Agriculture was 0.05 mm. Sand feels gritty when rubbed between the fingers (silt, by comparison, feels like flour).
Desert sand is a brilliant tan color which resembles the color of desert sand. It may also be regarded as a deep tone of beige.
Desert sand was used by General Motors, along with "rosewood", as a paint color for their early Cadillacs.
In 1998, desert sand was made into a Crayola crayon color.
The color shown at right matches the palest of the three colors in the 3-color Desert Camouflage Uniform of United States armed forces, which in 1990 began to replace the 6-color Desert Battle Dress Uniform.
The web color sandy brown is displayed at right.
As its name suggests, sandy brown is a shade of brown which is similar to the color of some sands.
The color earth yellow is displayed at right.
Earth yellow is one of the twelve official camouflage colors of the United States Army.
Sand is a color that resembles the color of beach sand. In fact, another name for this color is beach, an alternate color name in use for this color since 1923.
You tell me there's no darkness
While the sun shines down on you
And just because your life is peaceful
There's no fighting left to do
For every cup that runneth over
Many more are filled with pain
You talk to me of sunshine
When it's pouring down with rain
Just because you can't see it
Doesn't mean it isn't there
Just because it can't touch you
Doesn't mean you shouldn't care
For every life that's lit with love
Many more are racked with pain
You talk to me of sunshine
When it's pouring down with rain
It's a long black night, good people
Descended on our land
Share your light
Make a flower grow