what makes a black sand beach black?

Question

please answer. links would be appreciated as well as throrough explanations

Answer 1

Black sands are composed of black resistates: minerals that resist weathering. Resistates include quartz (most common), magnetite, zircon, rutile, garnet, and ilmenite. Black resistates form most black sands.

Answer 2

It is the geology in the area. Black sand occurs in areas where there is volcanic activity meeting water. The lava travels to the sea and on hitting the sea is kind of explodes and sizzles etc and of course hardens very fast. This fast cooling causes the formation of the black volcanic rock called obsidian, a rock with very little crystal development (black glass or volcanic glass).The more obsidian the blacker the sand. Erosion and weathering (wind, rain, waves from water etc) break the rocks up into the beach sand thusly forming black sand in the area. An example is Hawaii - Punalu'u Beach

Answer 3

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0704b.htm

volcano's play a huge part in black beach sand ..i hope the link above is what you are looking for

Answer 4

Check this out