Why is the sand softer at Hunnington Beach, California than other beaches in California?

Question

I'm learning about beaches in Oceanography and I was wondering why is the sand in Hunnington Beach is so much prettier and softer than any of the other beaches in California?

Well I live in California [the northern part] and I absolutely love the study of the ocean. I've been to almost every beach around California. Which is another reason why I'm going to be a marine Biologist.

But anyways Does anyone know why Hunnington Beach's sand is softer and prettier? I don't understand. I know it has to do with what kind of different minerals are in the sand, but like which ones? What kind?

Because it's like Florida's sand softness status. lol.

Answer 1

funny you should ask,

well first of all the main component of sand is silicon dioxide which is usually in the eroded form of quartz,. however brighter sand usually consists of limestone deposits or gypsum.

the sand's teture is not only determined by the mineral components but also with the factors of where it's located and the style of water and biology that surrounds it, for example the beaches by newark new jersy are kind of gritty and sharp because there are alot of clams that get washed up and their shells decompose into the sand, hovever down by floida the sand is softer because the land is swamp-like and pertains to different species of animals.

the aeration of the sand is also a factor, places with water that has been oxygenated at higher levels usually have softer sand, or places that are exceptionally windy.

anyway, this was all i could come up with, hope it helps and good luck in your future! the world can always use another marine biologist.

Answer 2

because of the people who dont care for our beaches

Answer 3

The sand from the Huntington Beach area of California seems to be soft and white due to a mixture of small rounded Quartz particles mixed with even smaller powdery Carbonate minerals (probably from the shells of the diatoms in the surrounding waters).

The Quartz crystals are very hard and have no or very few sharp edges.  The Carbonates are mostly Calcium and very soft.  They tend to grind down into a powder between the Quartz crystals.

The sand would be easily removed from the beach by ocean water if not for the 30 inch high concrete walls which have be built to prevent the movement of the sand.

Answer 4

I grew up in Huntington Beach and I didn't know that that was the best sand in California.That's nice to know. Well over all Huntington Beach is a very very nice city and downtown HB is very nice especially at night.

Answer 5

One of the main things that makes sand feel 'soft' is the size of the individual particles.  Take a handful of rocks and then a handful of sand.  The sand will undoubtedly feel 'softer' than the rocks.  It's the same thing with different qualities of sand.

The average size of a grain of sand is between 2 to 0.06 mm.  If they get smaller than that, it's usually referred to as 'silt' instead.  And one of the ways to tell silt from sand (other than by measuring grains) is - you guessed it - to rub it between your fingers and see how it feels.  Sand feels grainy while silt feels floury.

The only reason why one beach might have one grain size and another beach a different one is currents.  Small grains are more easily caught up and moved by water flows - many rivers show patterns of picking up sand in fast-moving (and rocky) parts and leaving them at slow-moving (and sandy) curving parts.  The ocean does the same thing.

So if Hunington Beach has particularly fine sand, it might just be at a place where ocean currents slow down a bit... it would not only not lose its small-grain sand but pick up more sand from elsewhere!