White sand is calcium carbonate that has been eroded down to sand size particles. One way that happens is by parrot fish grinding it up, but weathering surely created the vast majority of it.
“On the Great Barrier Reef, for example, researchers estimate that parrotfish are responsible for producing over 85% of the new sand generated annually.”
How does that compare to the quantity of sand already in existence? There was a long period of time (millions and millions of years) when there were no parrotfish, but billions of tons of calcium carbonate being eroded by the weather.
White sand is calcium carbonate that has been eroded down to sand size particles. One way that happens is by parrot fish grinding it up, but weathering surely created the vast majority of it.
https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/why-parrotfish-poop-white-sand-5-358789/
“On the Great Barrier Reef, for example, researchers estimate that parrotfish are responsible for producing over 85% of the new sand generated annually.”
How does that compare to the quantity of sand already in existence? There was a long period of time (millions and millions of years) when there were no parrotfish, but billions of tons of calcium carbonate being eroded by the weather.
Could very well have been other animals over time.
Seeing as there’s now a shortage of water-eroded sand, probably a good portion of it
Are you thinking of sand that’s easily accessible (so not under many metres of sea) and suitable for use in concrete?
How much of all the planet’s sand is on beaches frequenteeed by humans? Perhaps the interesting samples are over-represented but they’re still neat.
What a stupid thing to bicker about. Good work, people on the internet. o_O
I didn’t read it as bickering at all, just two people with an interest in sand, trying to get to the truth.
I might be extra cranky. I hate sand.
Fuck off, Anakin.
Then why keep reading about it and then lash out when you don’t even understand what you are reading…? There was no bickering.
We’ve all got our hobbies