A collection of different sands

An arenophile is one who collects sand samples, the interest of the hobby lying in the variety of texture, colour, mineralogy and place of origin.[1]

Etymology

The terms arenophile meaning "sand lover" and the associated arenophilia derive from the Latin arena (sand) and the Greek phil (love). These words are not, as of 2019, included in the Oxford English Dictionary. The term Psammophile (derived from two Greek words) is also used, and found in the OED, but with reference to plants or animals rather than human collectors.[2][3] The adjective arenophilic is used in biology, as in "arenophilic glands, the mucoid secretions of which attach sand grains ...".[4]

Collecting

Sand from Kalalau Beach, Hawaii.(Field width = 5.5 mm) A few grains of olivine is visible, which is the green sand of some beaches of Hawaii.

According to the International Sand Collector's Society (ISCS), the hobby of sand collecting dates from at least the turn of the 20th century.[5] Collectors may seek out sand from coastlines or the shores of rivers which hold some personal significance, or sand which is considered interesting for its unique qualities.[6] Collecting sand involves minimal equipment, such as a shovel for digging, and containers to store the sand; good record-keeping is advised, since it can be hard to identify a sand's origin after the fact.[7] Some collectors may trade sands with fellow arenophiles in order to complete their collection.

Sand with certain characteristics is considered rare, such as green sand found in Hawaii and Brazil.[8] Rarity might also be derived from the remoteness of the sand's location, such as the Pitcairn Islands or Easter Island.

Sand collecting is forbidden in certain locations: as an example, the Coast Protection Act 1949 makes it illegal in Scotland to remove any quantity of sand or pebbles from beaches and shorelines.[9] In 2019, it was reported that a French couple would face between one and six years in prison for removing 40kg (88lb) of sand from a beach in the Sardinian city of Chia.[10] The ISCS advises its members to be mindful of where they are collecting sand and of relevant local laws.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Willis, Rebecca. "The Magic of Sand". Intelligent Life (July/August 2013).
  2. ↑ Welland, Michael (4 January 2010). Sand: The Never-Ending Story. California UP. p. 14. ISBN 9780520265974. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "psammophile, n. and adj.". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  4. ↑ Sartori, André Fernando (October 2006). "Arenophilic mantle glands in the Laternulidae (Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata) and their evolutionary significance". Acta Zoologica. 87 (4): 265–272. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.2006.00240.x.
  5. ↑ "The Hobby". The International Sand Collectors Society. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  6. ↑ "The Hobby". The International Sand Collectors Society. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  7. ↑ "Become a Collector". The International Sand Collectors Society. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  8. ↑ Hausheer, Justine E. (2018-11-28). "Secret Confessions of A Sand Collector". Cool Green Science. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  9. ↑ Murphy, Sean (2022-06-17). "People urged not to lift sand and stones from beaches as it's 'against the law'". Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  10. ↑ "Is it illegal to take sand and pebbles from beaches?". The Week UK. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  11. ↑ "Become a Collector". The International Sand Collectors Society. Retrieved 2023-02-22.

Further reading

  • National Geographic, April 27, 1985, "Sand, a vanishing resource"
  • The Colliers encyclopedia, Volume R-T, subheading "Sand".
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