What is it and where is it formed?  Sand is a kind of quartz.  When sand sparkles in the sun, it is because the light is reflecting off of the quartz.  Sand that is only quartz doesn’t happen very often.  Some other minerals that can be in sand are:  magnetite, garnet, monazite, and rutile.  Sand is formed when rocks are broken down.  Some of these rocks are limestone, feldspar, and quartz.  As rocks weather, small pieces are washed into rivers and streams.  Sand can be formed from igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock.

How and where is it mined?  Sand is mined using quarrying, a kind of surface mining.  It is found in all states but the most is in California, Texas, Michigan, and Ohio.  We also get sand from Canada, The Bahamas, and Mexico.

What is it used for?  Grains of sand are used in glassmaking, road building, buildings, and industry.  Hourglasses are still using sand.  When sand has quartz and silica, it is used in light bulbs, insulation, and TVs.  Sand is also used in bricks, paint, plastic, and it is used in sandblasting which cleans other things.