Mining Black Sand, Lingayen, Philippines
The black sand of coastal villages facing the Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, is being mined for magnetite, a highly-valuable mineral used by industrial companies. The once pristine beaches are now destroyed and coastal erosion alarms residents.
To Save a Beach, They May Ruin It
Florida led the nation in establishing detailed criteria for ensuring that only high-quality sand is placed on Florida beaches during construction of beach nourishment projects.
Sand mining Is Booming Along With Fracking
Fracking, the latest craze in the quest to produce oil and gas, has been blamed for environmental problems ranging from flammable tap water to minor earthquakes. Now a new risk is emerging: sand mining. To squeeze hydrocarbons out of shale through hydraulic fracturing of the rock, the process known as fracking, producers need to pump an enormous amount of sand into the ground.
Sand Dune Bulldozed Without Permit, Ventura California
Environmentalists are calling the removal of a sand dune a crime. But some Pierpont neighbors don’t see it that way.
Oil Pipeline From Alberta Tar Sands To Texas Coast: On Its Way To Final Approval
In a blow to campaigners, the US State Department said the proposed 1,700-mile pipeline, that will pump oil from the tar sands of Alberta to the Texas coast, would not cause significant damage to the environment…
Sinkhole Swallows South-East Queensland Beach
A giant sinkhole up to 100m long and 50m deep has opened up on a south-east Queensland beach, Australia.
Coastal Dunes, Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil
It seems incredible, but in a country that keeps around 30% of the fresh water and shelters the largest rain forest in the world, we can find a “desert.” Located on the north shore of Brazil, the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is an area encompassing roughly 1000 square kilometers of blinding white dunes and deep blue lagoons, forming one of the most beautiful and unique places in the world.
Coastal Dunes in Spain Threatened by Poorly Designed Infrastructure
Although the dune ecosystem is unusual, fragile and is protected by the “habitats” directive of the network Natura 2000, its conservation is very vulnerable to the proliferation of car parks, nearby buildings and inadequate boardwalks.
Sand Drift in Norway Caused by Sea-Level Changes and Human Activity
The sand along the south-western coastal rim of Norway has drifted for more than 9000 calendar years. This was triggered by sea-level changes and human activities, new research has found.