Why is sand a light color?

Question

Why is sand a light color?

Answer 1

because it was originally dirt that got wet then dried in the sun

sun sun sun

its from the sun

Answer 2

Not all sand is light in color. Where did you get that idea? Sand can be almost white and pretty much any shade to almost brown. And, don't forget there's also black sand.  

Answer 3

Colour is entirely due to the properties of the surface the light strikes.  In the case of sand, it's a crystalline structure, its surface, as the light stirkes, in ordered in such a way that it reflects certain wavelengths of white light more than others to give the colour you perceive.

Different atoms (impurities, technically) in the sand also affect the structure and shape of the surface, which in turn alters the reflection of differing wavelengths of light, and hence the colour.

Answer 4

Pure quartz sand is always light or white colored, because quartz is most commonly clear or light colored.

Answer 5

Sand comes in all sorts of colors.  Beaches on volcanic islands are often black since volcanic rock is black.  Sand is just pulverized rock; so it will be the color of the rock it was originally.

A link to black sand info: