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THE STORY OF SAND
Dear HIW, Geography has always been my favourite subject and your magazine always teaches me interesting new facts. I wondered if you could answer my question. How long does it take to make the sand on beaches from rocks and how much does sand move over time?
Emily
Derrick
Thanks for your letter, Emily. It’s great to hear you have a passion for geography and that you’re keen to further your knowledge. Sand is so plentiful along the world’s coastlines and in deserts, but each tiny grain actually takes a very long time for nature to craft. It can take thousands or millions of years for sand to be produced through the gradual process of breaking down larger rocks. This depends on factors such as the hardness of the rock type and the climate conditions that the rock is subjected to.
Sand grains are generally between 0.06mm and 2.0mm in size
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Dear HIW, Geography has always been my favourite subject and your magazine always teaches me interesting new facts. I wondered if you could answer my question. How long does it take to make the sand on beaches from rocks and how much does sand move over time?