The Difference Between Sea Sand and River Sand

1. The Importance of Sand

Sand is an indispensable raw material in the construction industry, and its value is irreplaceable. However, there are counterfeit sands on the market, understanding the difference between river sand and sea sand is crucial for identifying these counterfeit products.

2. Characteristics of River Sand

River sand is formed from natural stones under the action of water flow over a long period, through impact and friction. River sand has a complex composition, smooth surface, small particles, high cleanliness, and a wide range of sources.

2.1 The Role of River Sand

River sand makes an outstanding contribution to modern construction, but sea sand contains a large amount of shells and salts, which seriously corrode the steel bars in buildings and shorten the service life of buildings.

3. Characteristics of Sea Sand

Untreated sea sand can be used in various mortars such as insulation mortar and adhesive mortar after drying treatment.

3.1 The Use of Sea Sand

Sea sand, as a main material of mortar, has high strength, but it must be used with caution in building materials.

4. Pros and Cons of Sea Sand and River Sand

Although the composition of river sand and sea sand is similar, they are all minerals such as granite and sandstone that have undergone intense differentiation and residual, with the main component being quartz, but river sand is cleaner and is the preferred material for construction. Sea sand contains more salt and impurities, which are harmful to building materials.

5. How to Distinguish Between Sea Sand and River Sand

5.1 Observe the Color

Sea sand is darker, usually brown or light brown; river sand is yellower, with coarser particles and a rougher surface.

5.2 Feel

After clenching the sand and then clapping it off, river sand does not easily stick to the hands, but sea sand is difficult to clean off due to its high viscosity.

5.3 Smell

Sea sand has a salty smell, while river sand is odorless. Tasting the water after soaking can further distinguish the difference.

5.4 Component Identification

Sea sand contains more silicon dioxide, while river sand contains more metal ions such as calcium ions, and the content of silicon is lower.

This is how to distinguish between sea sand and river sand, hoping to bring you some help, thank you for your reading.