A Grain of Sand: Nature's Secret Wonder [Slide Show]
Gary Greenberg photographs the world, one grain of sand at a time, in A Grain of Sand: Nature's Secret Wonder
![A Grain of Sand: Nature's Secret Wonder [Slide Show]](https://www.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/3B9C67D7-7247-4064-844CA6537F487A4A.jpg?w=590&h=393)
A Grain of Sand: Nature's Secret Wonder [Slide Show]
- 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) 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. 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) 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. This sample includes pink garnets, green epidote, iron-rich red agates, black magnetite and hematite. (magnification 100X) Gary Greenberg
