Grain of Sand
The gritty truth about sand.
Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is usually defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Collectible object (micro-tier)
- First appears
- Katamari Damacy (2004, PS2)
- Developer
- Taito
- Publisher
- Namco
- Role
- Starting-tier collectible; contributes minimal mass toward the first size threshold
- Affiliation
- None (environmental object)
Lore & Background
The most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal settings is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO2), usually in the form of quartz. Calcium carbonate is the second most common type of sand. Sand is a non-renewable resource over human timescales.
Reader's Guide
Sand particles range in diameter from 0.0625 mm to 2 mm. Sand feels gritty when rubbed between the fingers. Silt, by comparison, feels like flour.
Did You Know?
- Desert sand, although plentiful, is not suitable for concrete.
- Fifty billion tons of beach sand and fossil sand are used each year for construction.
- Only 15% of the Sahara is sand dunes, while 70% is bare rock.
More in Collectibles & the Katamari
Elsewhere in Katamari Damacy
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