A Grain of Sand: Nature's Secret Wonder [Slide Show]
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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... 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) 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. .. 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... Gary Greenberg
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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) 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) Gary Greenberg
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) Gary Greenberg
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