WHAT IS YOUR SIGNATURE SAND?
1. Simpson Beach - Shore Acres State Park, Oregon
2. Concretion Cove - Sunset Bay, Oregon
3. Unnamed Cove (garnet) - Sunset Bay, Oregon
4. Whaleshead Beach (magnetite) – Brookings, Oregon
These four sands all have special but different meanings, memories, purposes and interests in my collecting and trading.
This sample has sentimental significance to me. Not only the childhood memories, but also the high concentration of crushed shells and dominantly orange scallop shelled cove is not found elsewhere on the Oregon Coast. It resembles tropical sands yet it’s in Oregon. Whenever I trade sand, the individual gets this very coarse-grained biogenic sand whether they asked for it or not.
Concretion Cove at Sunset Bay has the largest concentration of concretions that are marble size and smaller. I doubt that I was the first to introduce these little gems to the sand trading community, however, I do believe I put them into motion sparking the interest to collectors “needing” them. The average concretion in the (above photo) is just a bit over 2mm in diameter.
This garnet sand was responsible for me first meeting “sand guru”, Leo Kenney. The garnet sand was also the second sand sample from Oregon to be featured in the (Splendid Sands Calendar) created by Leo Kenny, Kate Clover, and Carol Hopper Brill…second to Simpson Beach.
“The purple Plum Island would be my signature sand. When a sample was given to me in 2004, photographing it began my sand journey. I gathered a lot during some years of abundance and everyone I every traded with or gave sands to got a sample. I've given away pounds of it at the sandfests I've attended. Sure, other people collect it and trade it, so I do not "own" it. But meet me and you will be given some!”
“I think I would select two signature sands right now. 1) The glacial sand that is in my backyard. 2) Garnet sand from Hamlin Beach on Lake Ontario about 45 minutes west of home.”
“I believe my signature Sand is from Cayo Timon, one of the 13 small coral cays of Cayos Cochinos, Bay Islands, Roatan, Honduras. The islands are a Marine Protected Area and are managed by the Honduras Coral Reef Foundation. The coral reef here is part of the world's second largest coral reef system known as the Meso-American Barrier Reef. Eating with the indigenous Garafuna people, walking amazing island shores, and then boating and snorkeling to the tropical location made for an amazing day.”
When I come across any sand sample connected to a movie or movie set, I always think of sand collector Bill Beiriger. He has an amazing collection of sands all connected with a movie. Any movie sand I feel could be Bill’s Signature Sand however, he narrowed it down to four.
“I choose these four sand samples mostly because of the background of the films they are from, not because of the sands themselves.
Murder She Wrote, is because of the primary filming site. Most of the series was filmed at the town of Mendocino, CA. The location is a beautiful locality of California.
Anne of Green Gables, was filmed on the north coast of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Even though this series was more or less a ‘Chick Flick Series', I enjoyed the series. The primary filling site was, Cavendish, PEI.
South Pacific, again chosen not because of the sand but the background of the film. I served in the Navy and I used to sing in Musicals, Opera and Choral presentations. That is why it is part of this list.
The last sample is from M*A*S*H, the TV Series, I probably have watcher that series 3 or 4 times. The site where the series was filmed is part of the California State Parks, Malibu Creek State Park. I contacted the individual in charge and he sent me the sample.
I have many other favorite samples, but they are not part of the Movie Sands display.”
“My favorite sands, are: 1) Italy, Island Elba, Rio Marina, near beach and a lake called: Terra Nera. I love heavy mineral sand; black sand; magnetic sands; The beach and the sea include all 3 preferences. And since it also contains pyrite in addition to magnetite and hematite, it is also shiny. When it's in a trade list I always pick the sand, even though I already have a few samples of it. And the site is below an earlier mine that was already being exploited by the Romans.”
Hans’ other signature sands include; a garnet sand from Finland, Foraminiferen sand from Northern Cyprus (Turkish part) and Lanzarote…his, “first big sand love.”
“My signature sand is Deerfield beach in Florida. That was my first sand. I was there on a holiday with my late husband and I have nice memories. He collected minerals and he took some sand home for sand collectors and that is how the ‘madness’ started.”
“My signature sands from Florida are Siesta key, (most popular), Marquesas key, (hardest to get), and garden key dry Tortugas, (most illegal). Now I just want the best colors, illegal, rare or wicked hard to get and exotic. Thats just my thinking at this time. Koki Beach in Hawaii is my fourth signature sand for (best color).
“The first sands in my collection were green olivine sand and black volcanic glass sands that I collected in Hawaii with my parents in 1969. With my brother, I collected red garnet sand at Greenwich Point, Connecticut about the same time. They are all gone, so I will always treasure the memories of those days.”
“I was born and raised not far from the Lake Michigan shore in Muskegon, Michigan. The beach was five miles from home. We called the beach sand "sugar sand." The near pure quartz sand made for a beautiful beach that I visited nearly every day as a kid. Mom and her women friends (and their kids) would arrive at the beach mid-to-late morning with PB and J sandwiches and a thermos of lemonade. On special days, we'd have cookies: Pecan Sandies. We played in the water, built sand castles and drip castles, ran up and down the dunes, got good and sunburnt, got sandblasted on windy days, watched the ships pass through channel. We probably went home at 2 or 3 in the afternoon and returned the following day, as well as the next. Our beds were always a little gritty with sands too.”
2)Keweenaw of Michigan at Copper Harbor.
4) Oolitic sand from Joulters Cay, off Andros Island.
José Louis Martín Lucas:
“I think there is a beach that only I have been to. It is Playa Chinchorro, on the island of Fuerteventura. On this beach there are several types of sand, but the most characteristic is the reddish gravel. I can say that everyone who has this sand is because I have given it. Surely there will be some more, especially from Fuerteventura, but the most special is the beach of Chinchorro.”
Brian Dear:
“First would be the Alaska Red sand because of the amazing way it looks when magnified, the fact that I seem to be the only one that has it, (thanks to my gold prospecting Uncle) and the fact that it is from such an isolated beach. Second, not as rare would be the blue Sodalite sand from Namibia, again a much sought after sample. Neither of these are self collected but definitely in my favorites. Last but not least would be the Mexican "Stick Sand" also called Hurricane Sand from Riviera Maya Mexico. This sand is only found in certain areas on the beach after a hurricane as it is composed of tiny branches of coral. I was fortunate to find some while diving off shore.”
“The sample from Tra Inis Oirr in Ireland, even though not one of my first collected samples, sticks out to me as being a signature sand, because it was the first time I truly acknowledged that I wanted to take a piece of my travels home with me. I wanted to be able to look back at the sample over the course of my life and be transported back to that time I visited the Aron Islands with my mom. I can clearly recall when at the airport leaving from this trip being questioned as to why I had sand in a water bottle in my backpack. The customs agent turned to a colleague and asked if this was allowed and he shrugged as if to say, why not?! So luckily, I was able to keep the sample, and it’s front and center on top of my sand cabinet. When taking time to photograph the sample, it’s amazing how much my knowledge has grown about sand. Since collecting this sample over 15 years ago, I was able to spot foraminifera, sea urchin spines and other broken biogenic fragments. I hope I’m able to learn more about this hobby as I continue to add to the collection.”
Andy Frazer:
“About six months after I started collecting sand, I was attending a BBQ and met someone who loved talking about his collection of hand-made knives. I had no interest in knives, but I was very fascinated by his passion for collecting and how he tracked down knife craftsmen in small towns and remote countries. I told him I collected sand. He understood immediately and asked if I had any sand from the Marshall Islands. I told him I did not. He told me he knew someone who worked at a resort in the Marshal Islands and said he would ask his friend if he could send me something. I didn’t anything to come of that conversation.
A few weeks later I received a Small Flat Rate Box (American sand collectors know exactly what that is) with half a liter of sand from Beran Island, a sand island of 45 acres in the Ailinglaplap Atoll. That was my signature sand for the next two years. I’ve traded away almost most all of it, but it started my interest in corresponding with other people in the Marshall Islands to collect more locations.”
One day I was visiting Pacific Grove I stopped by the memorial bench. At the foot of the cliff below the bench is a beautiful little unnamed cove…about one hundred feet wide covered in large rocks mixed with soft, white sand. It’s a quiet and peaceful cove enclosed by rock cliffs. I was surprised the city did not officially name this cove after Polly Klaas. I decided to name it myself.
I collected enough sand for plenty of future trades. I labeled the packets “Polly Klaas Memorial Cove”. I make sure everyone who trades with me gets one of these sands. If I run out, I will go get more. You won’t find that name on any internet maps. My goal is to spread that name in sand collecting databases all over the world.”