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Posted by Kris Krieger on July 15, 2008, 1:31 pm
>
>>
>>> news:266ac47c-954b-4e2c-b073-
>>> 87ef011438fa@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:
>>>
>>>>> The desert country of Saudi Arabia must import sand from other
>>>>> countries. This is because their desert sand is not suitable for
>>>>> building construction. - from the Travel section ofwww.odd-info.com
>>>>
>>>> I'm waiting for somebody to get around to telling me WHY it is so.
>>>>
>>>
>>> The link at odd-info leads to a book, and 20 minutes of googling
>>> didn't produce an answer ...
>>>
>>> Possible reasons?
>>>
>>> Particle size (very fine)
>>> High silica content
>>> Salt content?
>>> Therefore - cost of washing / regrading?
>>>
>>
>> Another additional possibility? - maybe it's related to the types of
>> rock that the wind erodes into sand-sized particles?
>
> I have a cousin who has spent about 30 odd years in construction on the
> Arabian Peninsula. I think he worked for MbL (father of ObL) for while.
> He'll know. I'll see if I can track him down ... my cousin I mean :-)
>
<L!> Heh.
Terry had mentioned that it's too smooth/worn (which I assume means there
aren't enough tiny surfaces for the concrete to "grab"), which seems to
make sense. It's interesting, tho'. I'm still wondering whether there is
a practical use for highly-smoothed sand - one would think that it'd feel
very "soft" because it ought to give way easily (as the smooth particles
glide over one another under pressure).
Ha!, I'm waiting for the "new and natural SAND MATTRASS! Conforms to your
individual body shape!" <LOL!>
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