Magnetic Sand in Tamarin Bay

You need equipment for this Earth Cache! A sheet of paper, a strong magnet and one container to seperate the sand.

This EarthCache is only answerable if you regard the pictures and discription in the listing.

The most people are dreaming about soft sand at white beaches. Laying in the tropical sun and bathing in the sea. Tamarin bay is not popular for swimming, it can be dangerous at this spot. It's even not popular for white sand, the sand seems darker. But wait, why is the sand so "dirty"?

The reason is not dirt or oil, it's geological. How can this be? This sand is called "ironsand", a special type of sand with heavy cocentrations of iron.

The Earth's core biggest component is iron. Caused by volcanic eruptions, iron material reaches to the top. During a process, which takes million of years, the iron material is breaking into tiny particles, which are carried through rivers to the ocean. The iron particles are heavier and so the lightweight sand (quarz) is carried away by the wind and water, the heavier iron sand deposites at concentrated places.

If you are near a beach with magnetic sand, you can find out with a simple experiment. The experiment may not work perfect, if the sand is wet.

Your tasks:

1) Look at the experiment and repeat it with a sample of the Sand from Tamarin. Send me your solutions of the experiment: Is this a beach with magnetic sand?

2) Describe the sand grain: Which colours does the sand has (Mention at least two colours) and how does it feel (smooth, rough, round, square)?

3) What do you think, can ironsand be found anywhere in the world? What do you need for the genesis for this special sand? Are there indications of a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ spot near the beach or how got the sand to the beach?

4) Send us the text from the warning sign near the coordinates.

Of course we're looking forward seeing many pictures of you, your experiment and the beach, but this is optional.