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Purple sand

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Purple beach coloration caused by unique mineral deposits.
Purple Sand patterns on Pfeiffer Beach, CA

Purple beaches are a phenomenon caused by the presence of a large amounts of almandine-pyrope garnet. or other purple minerals like manganese or rose quartz that have accumulated in the local sediment. These purple beaches are primarily found in the western Canadian Shield region or the northern continental United States; often in proximity to a major river systems with coarse sediment, a glacial sediment source, or input from glacial or para-glacial sediment.

Causes

Purple sand on Pfeiffer Beach.

Surficial garnet deposits primarily originate from the glacial erosion of plutons, with the majority from the glacial erosion of the Canadian Shield caused by ice flow during retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. These beaches often have stripes of various colors or shades caused by the waves sorting the minerals by density and therefore color. As a wave comes ashore it pushes less-dense minerals higher up the beach while denser minerals settle first. The relatively low density of the garnet causes it to rise to the top of the sand giving the beaches their unique color.

Purple Sand Beaches

  • Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California, USA.
  • Plum Island, Massachusetts, USA
  • Purple Sand Beach, Candle Lake Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Clearwater Lake, Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada
  • Good Spirit Lake, Good Spirit Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Candle Lake, Candle Lake Provincial Park, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Garnet Beach, Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada

References

  1. "Why is the Sand Purple at Plum Island Beach?". JEOL USA. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. Sepp, Siim (16 May 2013). Pfeiffer Beach sand. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  3. Coastal Environments NE Massachusetts and New Hampshire Field Trip Eastern Section (PDF), Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, 9–11 May 1969, pp. 215–313
  4. "Clearwater Lake Provincial Park Management Plan" (PDF). Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship Parks and Natural Areas Branch. January 2013. Retrieved 18 Nov 2021.
  5. Hein, Christopher J.; et al. (1 Jan 2014). "Evolution of para-glacial coasts in response to changes in fluvial sediment supply". Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 388 (15): 270. Bibcode:2014GSLSP.388..247H. doi:10.1144/SP388.15. S2CID 129662471. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  6. Eccles, D.R. (2008). Geological Evaluation of Garnet-Rich Beaches in East-Central Alberta, with Emphasis on Industrial Mineral and Diamondiferous Kimberlite Potential (PDF). Energy Resources Conservation Board. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  7. Turner, Bob; Quat, Marianne; Debicki, Ruth; Thurston, Phil (2015). Natural Resources Canada and Ontario Geological Survey 2015. Parry Sound: Canadian Shield and glacier-sculpted gneiss in cottage country; GeoTours Northern Ontario series (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  8. Brown, Jay (9 February 2016). "6 Natural Wonders You Must Experience in Saskatchewan". Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  9. MacDonald, Ryan (11 February 2020). "Canada's little-known geological wonder". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  10. "Some of the best beaches in Canada!". Tourism Saskatchewan. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
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