Maui Sand: This is a montage of Maui sand grains floating above a beach. The image is made up of 27 different photographs put together in Photoshop. (magnification 40X) [Link to this slide]
Gary Greenberg

Star Sand: This star-shaped grain of sand is from a beach on Taketomi Island in Okinawa, Japan. The sand contains the remains of microscopic shells known as forams. (magnification 50X) [Link to this slide]
Gary Greenberg

Namibia: Sand from Skeleton Coast in Namibia, Africa, contains well-rounded black magnetite, garnet and possibly a tiny diamond near the middle left of the frame. (magnification 250X) [Link to this slide]
Gary Greenberg

Minnesota:

The glacially deposited sands around Lake Winnibigoshish, Minnesota contain abundant sediments from the igneous and metamorphic minerals of the Lake Superior basin....[More]

Minnesota:

The glacially deposited sands around Lake Winnibigoshish, Minnesota contain abundant sediments from the igneous and metamorphic minerals of the Lake Superior basin. This sample includes pink garnets, green epidote, iron-rich red agates, black magnetite and hematite. (magnification 100X)  [Less] [Link to this slide]

Gary Greenberg

Six Sand Grains:

The tip of a spiral shell has broken off and become a grain of sand. This spiral sand grain has become opalescent in character after being repeatedly tumbled by the action of the surf....[More]

Six Sand Grains:

The tip of a spiral shell has broken off and become a grain of sand. This spiral sand grain has become opalescent in character after being repeatedly tumbled by the action of the surf. It is surrounded by five other sand grains made of (from noon clockwise): 1) a pink shell fragment; 2) a foram; 3) a microscopic shell; 4) a volcanic melt; and 5) a bit of coral. (magnification 200X)  [Less] [Link to this slide]

Gary Greenberg

Ireland: The bright purple tip of a sea urchin spine has become a grain of sand in this sample from Fanore, Ireland. It is surrounded by shell fragments. (magnification 200X) [Link to this slide]
Gary Greenberg

Lahaina Maui:

Sand grains from Maui, Hawaii. These were the first grains of sand that I examined through the microscope. I was amazed by the array of spectacular bits and pieces....[More]

Lahaina Maui:

Sand grains from Maui, Hawaii. These were the first grains of sand that I examined through the microscope. I was amazed by the array of spectacular bits and pieces. The "Y" shaped glassy structure at the top is a sponge spicule, which functions as the internal skeleton of most sponges. Just to the left and down are two perfectly formed microscopic shells. Just to the right and down from the sponge spicule is a bit of brown sea urchin spine, with its intricate structural design; and, to the right of that is a pink and white bit of a broken seashell. At the very bottom of the frame is a tiny, white, tube-building worm. (magnification 75X)  [Less] [Link to this slide]

Gary Greenberg