What is the difference between gray sand and yellow. sand color

Looking at a pile of sand brought to the site, two builders will behave differently.

The newcomer will cast an indifferent glance at her and take up the shovel.

An experienced builder will first pick up a handful of sand, look at it carefully and rub it in his palms. After that, he will issue a verdict: it is suitable for concrete, but it will not work for plaster and masonry.

What is the secret of construction sand, which requires such a careful assessment? We will analyze this issue in more detail.

Physical and mechanical characteristics

Volume weight

It shows the mass of 1 m3 of sand in its natural state (wet, with all impurities). On average, the volumetric weight of this material is from 1500 to 1800 kg.

The composition of building sand is evaluated according to the following parameters:

  1. Granulometric;
  2. Mineral;
  3. Chemical.

Granulometric shows the percentage of grains of different sizes. To determine it, the sand is sieved through calibrated sieves (from 0.16 mm to 10 mm).

A sieve with a hole size of 5 and 10 mm reveals gravel granules. GOST allows the presence of grains 1 cm in size. At the same time, their number should be no more than 0.5% of the total mass of sand.

Granules larger than 5 mm are normalized in this way:

  1. The maximum content is up to 10% in natural;
  2. up to 15% in crushed;
  3. up to 5% in enriched sand.

Mineral composition

Chemical composition

It plays an important role in determining the suitability of bulk material in various areas of construction. Red, yellow, and orange shades indicate the presence of oxidized metals. Green and blue colors are characteristic of river sand, which contains aluminum salts.

Types of building sand

The classical definition says that sand is a mixture of mineral particles (quartz, mica, limestone) formed as a result of natural or artificial destruction of rocks.

"On the shelves" the most important properties of sand are laid out by GOST 8736-93. According to this standard, sand is divided into two classes:

  • I class - very large, then comes sand of increased size, large, medium and fine;
  • Class II - very large, oversized, large, medium, small, very small, thin and very thin.

The main difference between these classes is that lower quality sand (second class) includes three additional fractions. Fine dusty particles are an undesirable component of mortars. They impair the bond between the large sand granules that the cement binds.

In real production there is no such fine gradation.

Here, the extracted sand is conditionally divided into three fractions:

  • 0.5-1 mm - small;
  • 1.5-2 mm - medium;
  • 2.5-3.5 mm - large.

Sands with a fineness modulus of 2-2.5 mm are used for the production of concrete and reinforced concrete structures. Bulk material with a size of 1.5-2 mm is used for the manufacture of bricks. The finest sand is used for the preparation of dry building mixtures.

Having taken into account the GOST classification, let's move on to the practical aspects of the origin and use of building sand.

According to the type of production, they distinguish:

  • Career;
  • River;
  • Nautical;
  • Quartz (artificial) sand.

Career

The name clearly indicates the origin of the sand. Clay and stones are found in it, so quarry material is used to a limited extent: for site planning, pouring under concrete screeds or foundations.

To improve the properties, quarry sand is washed with water right at the place of extraction, freeing it from dust particles and clay. This is how alluvial (washed) sand is obtained. It is suitable for plaster and masonry mortars. In addition, sieving can be used to remove clay.

Important practical conclusion: if you are offered to buy quarry (ravine) sand, do not forget to clarify whether it has been cleaned (washed, screened) or not.

Areas of application for washed (sifted) quarry sand:

  • cement screed, masonry and plaster mortars;
  • Finishing work;
  • brick production;
  • foundation device;
  • concrete preparation.

river sand

This building material is mined by a dredger from the bottom of the river. River sand contains no clay particles and very few stones. This allows you to use it without restrictions for concrete work.

It is very valuable that river sand of medium size (1.8-2.2 mm) practically does not shrink. Therefore, it is optimally suited for masonry and plastering.

Quarry sand is more difficult to use in this capacity. In the solution, it sits on the bottom and has to be periodically mixed.

Areas of application for river sand:

  • concrete production;
  • brick production;
  • masonry work and cement screed;
  • preparation of asphalt concrete;
  • drainage device;
  • filler for paints and grouts.

Sea sand is similar in properties to river sand. It is also highly valued in the construction industry for its high purity and uniform particle size distribution.

Quartz sand

This material is obtained as a result of mechanical crushing of quartz-containing rocks. It is homogeneous in structure, chemically inert and pure.

The main field of application of this type of sand is the building materials industry. It goes into dry building mixtures, sand-lime bricks, blocks and concrete, and is used to prepare grinding compounds. Landscaping, expensive interior and facade plasters also cannot do without quartz sand.

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question which sand is better, since each material is designed for certain types of work.

Nevertheless, the main conclusions are already clear:

  • for brick and large-block masonry, it is better to take river sand. If you mix it with a small amount of unwashed quarry sand, the solution will become more plastic (due to clay particles);
  • coarse or medium river sand is better suited for concrete (you can add a little fine washed quarry sand to it);
  • for plaster, washed quarry sand with a small addition of river sand or without it is better.

Estimated prices

Obviously, the cost of sand is the higher, the more manipulations had to be done with it during extraction and cleaning.

The cheapest is quarry unwashed and not seeded. Its price per cube is from 300 to 400 rubles. Quarry sand cleaned with water or sifted for construction work will cost from 550 to 700 rubles per 1 m3 with delivery.

River sand is significantly more expensive than quarry sand. Its price starts from 750 rubles and ends at 950 rubles/m3.

Fractionated quartz sand is the most expensive. When buying from 10 tons (1 KAMAZ), its price with delivery is from 4,500 rubles per cubic meter.

In uncovering and reviewing the history of our planet, geologists are faced with a fascinating scenario written by nature. The history of the development of the Earth is a colorful and vibrant performance full of dramatic events, many of whose participants and spectators have long since gone into oblivion, leaving their mark on the earth's layers. Each layer, each layer of the earth's crust is like a page of a huge stone book. On these pages, in a peculiar language in the form of prints of plants and fossil remains of animals; traces of storms that swept over the Earth, events that took place on the Earth and in its bowels many hundreds of millions and billions of years ago are recorded.

Like criminalists, geologists slowly and scrupulously, step by step, find and study facts, build various hypotheses (assumptions, conjectures) and recreate pictures of the distant past from non-existence. For several centuries, natural scientists and geologists have been trying to reconstruct the history of the Earth. But it is still full of mysteries.

The innumerable riches of the subsoil - stone and brown coal, iron, manganese, aluminum, copper and other ores, gold, marble and many building materials have always aroused great interest among people. Adult people always find a use for these riches.

It's always interesting to see what you can get. How to use these riches for the benefit of all mankind.

Curiosity. It all starts with him.

For example:

For many decades, millions of boys and girls have been playing with great pleasure in a simple, but terribly exciting and interesting game.

It's yellow and fluffy

Heaped in the yard.

If you want, you can take

And play with friends.

It is impossible to find a person on Earth who does not know what it is: sand. For some, sand has become a game, for some, a cure, and for some, a tragedy.

And yet, what is it?

Every summer, with great pleasure, I spend time in one of my favorite places - the sandbox. From early childhood, I was fascinated by these tiny grains of sand, which, if one gets into the eye one by one, it will be very unpleasant, but if one by one they are added together, one can create unique figures.

When it is dry, it flows like a river, and if it is moistened with water, it becomes sticky like snow.

Looking into the explanatory dictionary of S.I. Ozhegov, I found that sand is loose grains of quartz or other solid minerals. (S. I. Ozhegov Dictionary of the Russian language., ed. >, M., 1973).

In > V. I. Dahl, I read that >.

Dictionary Russian language D. N. Ushakov gives the following definition: >.

From everything I read, I realized that sand is a product of the destruction of various rocks. According to the size of the grains, they distinguish: crushed stone, gravel, coarse, fine sand and sand dust. According to the location, sand can be: river, sea (dunes), ravine, mountain. By composition - quartz, calcareous, magnetic, gold-bearing. That's why he's so popular. And it is used almost everywhere.

Let's consider everything in order.

And so: What is sand?

No, not sugar, but the one on which it is so pleasant to lie on a hot summer day. Especially if it's not just sand, but a beach.

When a solid rock was exposed to wind, rain and frost, it broke into small pieces. If these particles are small enough (from

0.05mm to 2.5mm in diameter), they are called sand.

So, sand is what is left of rocks, boulders, ordinary stones. Time, wind, rain, sun and time again destroyed mountains, showered rocks, crushed boulders, crushed stones, turning them into billions of grains of sand, making them sand. So our favorite river, sea and other sand consists of quartz, feldspar and mica.

Since sand is the small particles of minerals that make up mountains, any minerals can be found in the sand. The main material of which sand is composed is quartz. Some sands contain 99% quartz. Other minerals that can be found in the sand are calcite, mica, iron ore, in small quantities - garnet, tourmaline, topaz.

Sand can be found wherever mountains are exposed to nature. One of the places with the greatest occurrence of sand is the seashore. Here the impact of the tides, their destructive effect on the mountains, the friction of the applied sand on the mountains and the dissolution of some mountain minerals with salt water affects. All this together contributes to the formation of sand.

But where do the sands in the deserts come from?

Much of the sand is blown into the desert. In some cases, desert sand is formed by the destruction of mountains. There are cases when deserts were originally the seabed, but millennia ago the water receded. The bare sands of deserts that can move are called dunes.

Sand is a very useful material. It is used in the manufacture of concrete, glass, sandpaper, filters for water purification.

Since sand is 99% quartz, then: What is quartz?

Every day we use quartz in everyday life and do not even think that it is quartz. Quartz is very widespread and has a huge application.

Quartz is also called silica. It is made of silicon and oxygen, heavier than steel and stronger than glass.

Without impurities, quartz is colorless or white, various additives make it red, brown, green, blue, blue, even black. Sometimes quartz is found in the form of large transparent hexagonal crystals with sharp ends - this is >.

Most mountains are made of quartz. Sandstone is made up of quartz particles held together by a cementing compound. Granite also contains quartz. White sands are pure quartz. Plain sand is also mostly quartz! Many of the semi-precious stones are also quartz, colored with various impurities. For example, agate, amethyst, onyx.

Why sand different color?

There is a lot of sand on earth. It is enough to imagine sandy deserts, in which mountains of sand (dunes) sometimes stretch for tens and hundreds of kilometers, or sea coasts with sand dunes intertwined by the wind, if they are not held together by pine roots. In the deserts of Central Asia and Kazakhstan, sands occupy at least a million square kilometers.

The color of the sand is different - black, greenish, reddish, although yellow and white sand is most common. The color of sand depends on its origin. Sand appears after the destruction of solid rocks under the influence of temperature fluctuations, wind or water. This process is especially intense in the zone of constant sea surf or rapids in mountain rivers. The resulting sand is grayish in color, like most types of granite.

Coastal cliffs gradually break up into separate blocks, which turn into stones and pebbles by waves. For many years, waves rub them against each other and gradually crush them into ever smaller particles. They are also hewn and gradually turn into a mass of a homogeneous particle size. Often, small pieces of corals and shells crushed by the sea are added to it.

Sometimes sand is brought to the coast by the winds. Such, for example, is the composition of the coast mediterranean sea where the sand is blown in from the Sahara Desert. Such sand has a bright yellow color and consists of small pieces of quartz. Pink sands are made up of feldspar. The red ones are from garnierite.

Some beaches are made up of only one color of sand, such as the black lava beaches in Tahiti. White sand, consisting of the remains of coral and shells, is found on atolls and the coasts of tropical seas. In Europe, it can be seen in fossil deposits, almost entirely composed of calcareous compounds.

There are amazing black sands in Azerbaijan, near the city of Lankaran. They were formed from the deep, black color of the gabbro rock.

But much more often, the sands are a mixture of colors, since they consist of different kind rocks with an admixture of fragments of coral and shell rock.

We have learned a lot of good things about sand, and it seems that there is nothing more important and valuable on Earth than sand. It seems that life without sand would be boring and difficult. But why then are many so afraid of such a wonderful and irreplaceable sand?

Why is he so scary? Damage caused by sand.

On Earth, more than half of the land surface is deserts and steppes. In these spaces, sandstorms are born, develop and rage. There is a place where they can roam with all their might!

Barely morning rays warm the earth, the winds begin their work: they carry a huge amount of dust, pour and rewind millions of tons of sand. And travelers are poisoned by existence, because neither heat nor lack of water bring people such troubles as sandstorms.

A sure sign that dry winds are approaching (a dry wind is a dry hot wind that brings a prolonged drought) or a sandstorm is haze on the horizon. A little time will pass - and the daylight will grow dim: it will be covered with a muddy veil. But these are not clouds that bring blessed rain, but a canopy of the smallest dust raised by the winds.

Where dry winds and sandstorms have passed, plants fade, dry up and die. > - so people called these evil winds.

A sandstorm is a very terrible phenomenon, it is an element that raises tons of sand and dust into the air; they are common in arid and desert regions. The most famous African sandstorms in the Sahara.

The Sahara Desert is the most large desert on Earth covers an area of ​​9 million square kilometers in North Africa. This is one of the regions of the Earth with the most unfavorable living conditions. The air temperature often reaches 55 degrees, and the soil temperature - 80. Many thousands of people died in the sands of this desert. Entire caravans carrying slaves ivory, gold or salt, disappeared without a trace in the desert.

Another terrible phenomenon from sand is sand dunes (dunes are coastal sand hills, sediments moved by the wind). They are often found in deserts, but also occur on sea ​​coasts on the shores of the lakes. The movement of the dunes can lead to terrible consequences for people. Sand falls asleep forests, fields, roads, buildings and entire villages. To stop the sand, various measures are used: plantings, mechanical barriers.

In some places you can find petrified dunes. Sometimes this indicates that in the past there was a desert in this place. In many places on the globe people have lived in fear of quicksand for centuries. They were credited with the mysterious ability to suck in the victim until there was not a trace of it left on the surface of the earth.

Quicksand is sand with very fine grains of sand containing large amounts of water. Unlike ordinary sand grains, which have an irregular or pointed shape, quicksand sand grains are small round balls. Heavy objects here very easily disappear from the surface, as if sucked in by sand. Unlike normal sand, quicksand is completely inelastic. Therefore, walking on them is extremely dangerous - you can simply >.

What is quicksand, or, as it is also called, quicksand?

It is light, loose sand with a high water content. In appearance, it does not differ in any way from the ordinary sand that is next to it. However, there is still a difference between them: quicksand is not a support for heavy things.

Most often, quicksand is found in marshy places, on the shores of the seas, in the mouths of rivers.

People caught in quicksand can be saved. Since they contain a lot of moisture, they can swim just like in water. You just need to remember that once in them you need to move slowly enough. This allows the sand to flow around your body, as it does when you swim in water. In this case, you can save your life.

If sand is so dangerous, then: How do plants and animals manage to live in the sand? There are many various kinds deserts. In some, there is a scorching heat all year, from which even the sand groans. In others, hot summers are replaced by very cold winters. In each of the deserts, only special species of animals and plants can exist. Shrub plants living in deserts have very small leaves, or none at all. The small leaf surface prevents too much moisture from evaporating from the plant. Mexican cacti, for example, have thick, fleshy stems and spines instead of true leaves. Many plants have thorns and needles, while others have an unpleasant taste and smell. Thus, they protect themselves from animals and do not allow themselves to be eaten.

Animals that live among the sands, without exception, are able to do without water for a long time and get to sources that are at a great distance from each other. The best example of a desert dweller is the camel. He has special pads on his feet to make it easier to walk on hot sand, a stomach in which water accumulates, a fatty hump - an energy reserve needed during long transitions, and tight-fitting nostrils that prevent sand from entering the lungs during sandstorms.

Many of the little desert dwellers do not drink water at all. They get moisture from plant sap and night dew on leaves and stones.

People came up with the idea of ​​growing watermelons in deserts. Yes, I was not mistaken, it was watermelons. Yes, and they grow large, up to 10 - 12 kilograms. There are melon watermelons, which we all know, but there are also dry watermelons: very sweet, with a salty aftertaste. How do you manage to grow them among the sea of ​​sand, without watering, under the scorching sun?

This is done simply. In early spring, the nomad goes to rake the sand next to the saxaul or camel thorn. The inhabitant of the sands knows that the roots of desert plants go far into the depths, where there is water, salts, and the coolness necessary for all living things.

It is necessary to tear the ground up to about an elbow, make an incision on the root of a saxaul or a thorn and carefully insert a watermelon seed into it. It is from it that openwork lashes will then grow, the watermelon root will grow together with the saxaul and will receive the same moisture as it>. In autumn, large ripe watermelons will definitely grow here. Walking on such plantations should be done with caution. From any noise, even from a loud voice, a watermelon can crack. This cannot be allowed. Watermelon should make a crunch only at the touch of a sharp knife. This is an unshakable rule of desert nomads.

Why does a person need sand? Sand is indispensable in construction. Sand is a filler for concrete, reinforced concrete, ballast for railways and roads, a material for earthen dams and dams. It turns out that we live among the sand, we also walk and drive on the sand, but that's not all. If you look out the window through the glass, then we can see everything that is behind it, but it turns out that the glass is made of pure quartz sand and the necessary additives. Heat-resistant chemical utensils, crystal products and much more are also made from quartz sand.

But that's not all. Since ancient times, people have admired the beauty of pearls. Pearls were considered an adornment only for the rich. The ancient Indians believed that pearls are formed in the shell from the fact that dew drops fall into it. Similar legends were spread both in China and in Rus'. In fact, everything happens differently. The beginning of a pearl is given by a grain of sand that has fallen between the inner surface of the shell and the mantle. The oyster covers this grain of sand with mother-of-pearl layer by layer. As a result, after some time, a shiny ball is formed. This is the pearl.

Sand and people

And people are very fond of traveling, admiring the famous sands.

And some people are attracted to the rally on the sands.

Creativity from sand

Sand is a short-lived material, but it attracts people to itself and makes them create.

Beauty at the festival > fascinates and delights everyone.

Now more and more people are addicted >.

And you can also visit the sand museums to listen to the sounds.

Sounds in the desert.

The song of the sands, the song of the sirens luring travelers to certain death in the waterless desert, the ringing of monasteries buried in the abyss of sand.

This is how the English researcher R. A. Bagnould, the author of the first book on singing sands, published in 1954, describes his impressions. Nomads who heard these mysterious sounds considered them to be the voices of ghosts and demons living in sand dunes. And although today it is known that acoustic vibrations arise as a result of the movement of sand layers, this phenomenon has not yet been fully explained. There are two types of sounding sands - "humming" and "whistling", which differ in the frequency and duration of the emitted sound, as well as the conditions necessary for its occurrence.

The most common are "whistling" or "squeaking" sands, so named because of their ability to produce short, lasting less than a quarter of a second, high-frequency sounds - from 500 to 2500 Hz. Walking on such sand, you can hear a slight whistle under your feet. The sound is musically pure and may contain five or six harmonic overtones. There are whistling sands on sea coasts, on the banks of rivers and lakes around the world. "Buzzing" sands are considered to be a rarer and more unique phenomenon. You can hear them only deep in the desert near individual large dunes. Falling down in avalanches, such sands emit a loud low-frequency sound (50-300 Hz), usually lasting a few seconds, but sometimes up to 15 minutes. Sound can be so strong that it travels 10 kilometers, and is often accompanied by vibrations of the soil (seismic tremors), many times more intense than sound vibrations. Unlike whistles, the sound of humming dunes, in addition to the main frequency, contains many close frequencies. At the same time, more than one harmonic of the fundamental tone never occurs. For centuries, this "rumble" caused superstitious horror among the inhabitants of the desert, giving rise to a lot of legends and tales. So, Marco Polo in 1295 wrote about the evil spirits of the desert, which "at times fill the air with the sounds of all kinds of musical instruments, beat drums and clap their hands." The sound of humming sands sometimes resembles a drum roll, sometimes the sounds of a trumpet, harp and even bells. Today it is often compared to the buzz of telegraph wires or the propellers of a low-flying aircraft. More than 30 humming dunes are currently known in North and South America, Africa, Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and Hawaiian Islands. But to hear the humming sands, it is not necessary to travel to distant lands. You need to have a computer with a sound card and Internet access. Desert Songs are available at http://www. yo. rim. or. jp/~smiwa/sound/badaja. html. The fact that whistling sands are found mainly on the coasts, and buzzing sands - only deep in deserts, is apparently due to their different response to moisture. In order for the sand to "buzz", at least several weeks of drought are necessary: ​​the grains of sand must be absolutely dry. Even with low atmospheric humidity, a thin film of water forms on their surface, preventing sound, and five drops of water can silence a whole liter of buzzing sand. Whistling also occurs only in dry sand. However, for the best sound, it is simply necessary to periodically wash the whistling sand with water. Sometimes with its help it is even possible to "revive" the sand, which for some reason has lost its ability to make sounds. Perhaps this is due to the fact that water washes out pollution from the sand, and it becomes looser. In any case, whistling sands rarely extend more than 30 meters inland.

Currently, the number of sounding sands on our planet is rapidly declining. This is due to heavy traffic on the coasts and in deserts, with the development of mass tourism, air and water pollution. It can be said that the musical abilities of the sands serve as a natural indicator of the ecological state of the Earth. Protecting a unique natural phenomenon from complete destruction requires special measures. To this end, on November 17, 1994, the World Singing Sands Symposium was convened in Nima, Japan. It discussed the tasks of preserving and reviving the sounding sands on the basis of international cooperation and a scientific approach to the problem. The center of the movement to protect the singing sands from destruction was the Japanese city of Nima. On March 3, 1991, the Sand Museum was opened there, where unique collections of sands from all over the world are collected. This museum is famous for the fact that it houses the world's largest hourglass: five meters high and a meter in diameter. During the whole year, a ton of sand is poured from the upper reservoir of the watch to the lower one. On the last day of every year, exactly at midnight, locals gently turn over this giant sand calendar - and everything starts again.

Depending on which sand is being considered, it can be said that each of them can be distinguished even visually. mined in different places, for example, sea and river sand, will be very noticeably different in color. Sea sand is larger than river sand, and it also has completely different colors. Sea sand will appear more grey, while river sand may appear white/yellow. Quarry sand, large particles and impurities contained in it, can also be of different colors, which helps to distinguish it visually from other types of natural building material. When characterizing quarry sand, one can easily notice that it will necessarily contain impurities from clay, quartz crystals and dust, which also indicates that its color can be very different. Despite the content of some unnecessary elements in it, a solution prepared precisely from quartz sand will give tremendous strength and durability to the future structure. There is also artificial sand, and its name itself makes it clear that the color of such material can be completely different: from light white to very dark.

Sand is a bulk material of inorganic origin, therefore it does not enter into chemical interaction with the components of mortars. Sand contains rock particles, which as a result natural phenomena acquired a rounded or pointed shape, the diameter of the grains was 0.05–5.0 mm. According to non-specialists, the choice of this material does not depend on the specific intended purpose. But this is a mistake - for certain work, bulk substances are purchased with the appropriate chemical and physical characteristics. Consider the classification features of this material - natural and artificial.

Varieties of natural sand

Bulk material of natural origin is the result of the natural destruction of hard rocks. Depending on the place of occurrence, this material is divided into quarry (mountain, ravine), river and sea.

  • The most widespread quarry variety is mined in an open pit. Its disadvantage is the presence of impurities in the form of pebbles and dust particles. Grains are small - from 0.6 to 3.2 mm, color - yellow or brown. Uncleaned, this material can be used for a pillow under foundation structures or for trenches. For mortars, bulk material is used, purified from impurities by one of two possible options - washing or sieving. Alluvial sand is called sand, mined using a significant amount of water and special equipment - a decanter. In it, the mass is settled, followed by the removal of impurities along with water. This material is fine-grained, the particle diameter is on average 0.6 mm. The second category of processed material is seeded. In this case, impurities are removed by mechanical screening of the mass. Cleaned quarry sands - inexpensive and easy to use - are used at all stages of the construction process, where the presence of loose sand is required.
  • The place of extraction of river sand is the bottom of the river. This material does not need to be cleaned, the particles are small - 1.5-2.2 mm, having an oval shape, color - yellow or gray. Its valuable quality is the absence of clay inclusions that reduce the effectiveness of mortars and mixtures. The downside is the high cost, so the river variety is often replaced with a cheaper quarry counterpart.

Attention! In the manufacture of concrete mixes, river-type sand settles quickly, which requires constant mixing of the concrete.

  • Sea sand is a non-metallic mineral mined using hydraulic projectiles. This is a pure material, practically devoid of harmful impurities. It can be used in almost all areas - from the manufacture of concrete mixtures to the creation of dry ready-made fine-grained compositions and use in sandblasting units. The extraction of this mineral is quite difficult, so its mass production is impossible.
  • A fairly rare, one might say, exotic variety of this fossil is black sand. The reason for its formation is geological processes that wash out light components from dark-colored heavy minerals - hematites, ilmenites, magnetites. Such a fossil has no industrial significance, not only because of its low prevalence, but also due to its high radioactivity.

Artificial sands - varieties and their characteristics

The uneven location of natural sand extraction sites has led to the development of the production of artificial analogues, which are classified depending on the feedstock crushed to the required fraction:

  • Crushed. Receive from marble, diabase, basalt, slags of metallurgical production. Designed for acid-resistant or decorative mixtures.
  • For the production of porous sands, tuff, pumice, volcanic slag and even wood waste are used as raw materials.
  • Expanded clay small aggregates for lightweight concrete are made by grinding expanded clay raw materials. This product can be used as a thermal insulation material.
  • Aggloporite. Source - clay-containing raw materials, slags or ash formed during the firing of clay.
  • Perlite sands are made by heat treatment of crushed glass of volcanic origin, which is called obsidian or perlite. The color of the resulting product is white or light gray. Used in the manufacture of insulating products.
  • "White Sands" - quartz - got its name due to the characteristic "milky" shade. Although more often you can find a product made from yellowish quartz, in which there is a certain amount of clay impurities. This high-quality material is popular not only in construction (for decorative and finishing works), but also in water treatment systems and glass and porcelain industries.

Definition! The concept of "construction sand" does not mean a separate type of this material, but a group of natural and artificial bulk substances adapted according to their functional characteristics for use in construction.

Grades and fractions of sand

One of the important characteristics of this material, which determines the scope of its application, is strength, the value of which is indicated by the brand:

  • for grade 800, the source material is igneous type rocks;
  • 400 – metamorphic rocks;
  • 300 - sedimentary rocks.

An equally important factor determining the possibility of using a material to perform a specific task is the grain size. There are the following varieties:

  • Dusty. The structure is very fine, the particle size is up to 0.14 mm. Such an abrasive is further divided into three types - low-moisture, wet, water-saturated.
  • Fine - grain size 1.5–2.0 mm.
  • Medium size - 2.0–2.5 mm.
  • Large - 2.5–3.0 mm.
  • Increased size - 3.0–3.5 mm.
  • Very large - from 3.5 mm.

Such a value as the filtration coefficient shows the rate of passage of water through the sand under the conditions specified by GOST 25584. It depends on the porosity of the material.

Definition! For materials of natural origin, the bulk density is 1300–1500 kg/m 3 . With increasing humidity, this figure increases.

To determine the quality of a bulk substance, indicators such as the class of radioactivity and the percentage of impurities - dusty, silty and clay are also used. In very fine and fine sands, the permissible limit for the content of such impurities is 5%, in other types - 3%.

What questions are often asked by our clients?

What is the main difference between sand and clay

Various mineral and chemical composition These two materials are determined by their three main differences, the essence of which is reflected in the table:

Characteristic Sand Clay
Waterproof In nature, it is often found dry, because it perfectly passes water. This quality allows the material to be used to create filter installations. Absorbs water to a certain extent with an increase in volume, which is restored after drying. This material is not able to pass water both in a dry and in a water-saturated state.
Plastic Shows some ability to stick together when wet, but stable forms cannot be made from it. Raw clay is characterized by high viscosity and plasticity, so it can be used to create art forms, building products, household items.
Flowability Dry material does not have the ability to stick together, so it is characterized by high flowability. Such a bulk substance passes through any openings at the same speed. This property is used in the manufacture of hourglasses. Clay consists of tightly linked particles, therefore it does not have flowability. To separate the clay grains from each other, the lump must be crushed mechanically.

What is the difference between sand and sandstone

Sand grains, which are part of sandstone - sedimentary rock, are tightly connected by clay, carbonate or other materials. According to the time of appearance, the binders are divided into syngenetic - which appeared in the rock at the same time as sand grains, and epigenetic - which filled the voids between the grains after a certain period. Sandstones can be monomineral, consisting of grains of one mineral, or polymictic, consisting of several initial components.

What kind of sand is needed for the foundation

The foundation is the basis of the structure, and it must be strong and reliable. The best option for this type of work is a medium fraction alluvial material. It combines affordable price and the required level of quality. The same variety is used for the device screeds.

What kind of sand is better to use for masonry

What kind of sand is needed for sandblasting

Some craftsmen, trying to save money, use ordinary quarry material for this purpose. Such an abrasive can cause irreparable harm not only to the workpiece, but also to the machine itself. The most common option in this case is quartz sand.

Attention! When working with quartz abrasive, it is imperative to comply with safety regulations, since it forms a large amount of dust that can provoke silicosis.

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Sand color designers unanimously refer to universal options for decorating a room for any purpose. The sand palette is calm, successfully combined with various additions of any range and saturation.

Sand color in the interior will be an ideal base for the realization of different ideas. Variations of the beige range appeal to almost every style, friendly side by side with unusual details. An elegant sand palette will help create an atmosphere of comfort and friendliness, without excluding a touch of glamor and strict restraint.

Sandy notes are ideal for those who do not have clear preferences for decoration. It is recommended to fill the interior with beige colors in case of difficulties when choosing basic schemes. Sand will balance flashy, poorly combined color blotches.

When choosing sand shades as the basis of the interior, the task of decorating the room is simplified. For repairs, it is easier to choose materials, for furnishings - furniture, for decor - accessories. This is due to the versatility and relevance of the beige range.

Popular shades of sand

The sand palette is diverse. The spectrum includes warm and cold variations. To perform a home interior, a ruler of a spectrum of warm shades is more often used. It is these colors that are completely universal, have the maximum set of positive qualities.

Among the popular variations of the beige range are the following:

  • sunny golden sand;
  • light beige;
  • grayish wet sand;
  • straw;
  • cappuccino;
  • beige khaki.

In a residential interior, warm shades are more common, forming a mood of comfort. Although cold variations are also applicable. White or golden sand is good for walls, ceilings. Straw, coffee with milk are more often used in furniture. Gloomy grayish tones are in the details. Restrained neutral or cold color variations will support business rigor.

Stylistic decisions

Sand color is universal. Palette options are used as backgrounds and details in any style. Beige tones are successful for the bedroom, living room, kitchen, nursery, office, bathroom, corridor and other rooms. For rooms for various purposes, designers highlight some of the nuances of using sandy shades.

Living room

The mood of the living room is formed purposefully. The use of warm shades will help make the room incredibly cozy, attractive for home gatherings. The atmosphere of such a living room will pacify and soothe. The option is successful for those who are used to gathering with the whole family in the evenings after busy working days.

If the living room is rarely used, then you can set a moderate, slightly pompous mood. Shabby chic, art deco, oriental style will do. A warmer atmosphere is formed by classic, country, chalet. Minimalism, high-tech will become universal.

Bedroom

The special climate of the bedroom is produced precisely by the warm shades of sand. This role will be performed by cream, champagne color, caramel. Thick brown curtains will dilute the monochromatic range. Good color accents will be: bright orange, red, turquoise.

When choosing a style for a bedroom, they often stop at the classics. Designers recommend decorating the walls with wallpaper in beige tones, and choosing furniture from brown options. To decorate a bedroom, it is popular to use Provence, Eco, Modern and even a loft. Everyone chooses a close direction that will prompt a landmark for design.

Kitchen

It is recommended to make a small kitchen bright. Visually increase the space will help the use of warm sandy shades. Set with glossy fronts in light beige - a good choice. The best example of a dominant style would be any direction that submits to minimalism.

When decorating a spacious kitchen, sand tones can be transferred to the walls. A panel with a cup of cappuccino, coffee beans, cinnamon sticks will emphasize the mood. Perfect additions are energetic yellow, cheerful orange, brutal red, calm blue. Mediterranean, country, English styles will support the theme.

Children's

In the children's room, the use of sand shades is aimed at calming the raging psyche of the little inhabitants. A room with a calm design of the kids pacifies, allowing you to fall asleep faster. A neutral environment helps you concentrate better when doing homework.

Bright pictures on the walls, decorative pillows of rich colors (coral, turquoise, lemon) will help to diversify the interior. For design, style directions are preferred: minimalism, hi-tech, eco. You can create a themed design. For a boy, they make a marine or pirate interior, for a girl - a princess castle.

Bathroom

Decorating a bathroom using sand tones is a good solution. Light shades of beige scale can increase the space. Caramel, straw colors are more suitable for a spacious room. The decor can really be made using brown, salmon, khaki and even black undertones. Complementary colors are often injected locally. Although sandy tones can also be used only for decoration. Plumbing under brass and bronze looks original. Among the styles they choose classics, minimalism, modern, ethnic trends (Italian, Japanese, oriental design).

What is combined with

Combine sand shades with any colors. The versatility of the beige color options is clearly visible in the photo of the finished interiors. Designers identify a number of combinations that will help achieve results when using different style solutions:

  1. White, earthy undertones. An inexpensive interior for a small space is obtained by combining warm golden shades of sand with perfectly white. Using earthy tones next to light but cool beige tones will add austerity.
  2. Red. An expressive color that will concentrate energy. More often used in details, but can also be combined with basic design. Muted colors (burgundy, cherry) are popular for home interiors. Scarlet is suitable for bold natures with a stable psyche.
  1. Orange. Bright color will refresh the interior. They use catchy accents in the form of pillows, vases, clocks or introduce orange notes when forming the overall design scheme.
  2. Coral, pink. On a sandy background, natural combinations look great in the form of muted red-orange hues. Pale pink or more intense coral is acceptable on the walls. Such colors are also preferred for upholstery or textile filling.
  3. Green, blue. Natural combinations suggested by nature. Saturated emerald greens and blues are not often introduced into the basic scheme. The use of needles, khaki, blue-green is more popular.

Combining several multidirectional options must be done carefully. Oversaturation with colors is tiring. Variegated mixtures have the ability to overload the room. The classic scheme is often made up of a trio: sand, white, brown. Adding local bright accents does not hurt.

Results

Shades of sand with a restrained character will become the basis of an elegant and practical interior. Variations of sandy tones are easy to combine with other colors. It will not be difficult for the interior to set a style, purchase materials, and make filling. The choice in favor of beige tones is always justified. Especially if it is difficult to decide on preferences.