SAND

SAND

Where does it come from?

What is sand?

How is it born?..or made?

“Natural sands are the weathered and worn out particles of rocks..”
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Classification of sand according to source

Pit sand
•Sharp angular
•Porous
•Free from salt
•Contains clay
•Light brown or yellowish in color
•Most suitable for mortar work
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Classification of sand according to source

River sand
•Fine, round and polished
•Contains gravels, pebbles etc
•Must be washed before using
•Whiter in color
•Smaller in size than Pit sand
•Most suitable for plastering work
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Classification of sand according to source

Sea sand
•Round
•Contains high amount of salt
•White in color
•Not suitable for construction works
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Classification of sand according to size

All sand particles

Sand group pass through Size Use
sieve no.

Fine sand 16 1/16 inch Plastering works

Moderately 8 1/8 inch Mortar for

coarse sand masonry works

Coarse sand 4 3/16 inch Concrete works

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Properties of good sand
•Sand should be pure silica
•Free from clay, silt, organic matter, shells and salts
•Preferably washed before use

Test of sand
Test for silt and clay
Determined by the percentage loss ion weight after washing.

Test for Organic matter

Determined by stirring sample sand with 3% sodium hydroxide solution
(Caustic soda). Left 24 hours in a closed bottle. Sodium turns brown if
organic matters present.
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Bulking
Bulking of sand

“This is the increase in the volume of a given weight of sand due to the
presence of moisture..”

For upto 5 to 8 percent of moisture by weight of sand, there is a steady

increase in volume to about 20 to 30 percent.
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Uses of sand
•For making mortar plaster
•Making concrete
•For manufacturing hollow and sheet glass
•To fill up gaps in between bricks in roads
construction
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Artificial sand
•Sands made from crushed suitable materials
•Proved to give more strength in mortar than river sand
•Free from impurities
•Economical
•Environment friendly
How?
Discussion and feedback