The world is facing a critical shortage of sand. Each year, about 50 billion tons of sand and gravel are extracted, primarily for construction purposes. This poses two significant challenges.
Firstly, the current rate of sand extraction is unsustainable. Secondly, if this trend continues, it will result in irreversible environmental damage.
Environmental and Community Risks
For example, the depletion of sand from oceans, rivers, and beaches can cause severe flooding and harm marine ecosystems.
It also poses risks to coastal communities and infrastructure. Moreover, sand mining near aquifers can lower water tables, which impacts water availability for humans, wildlife, and agriculture.
Global Consequences
“The issue of sand comes as a surprise to many, but it shouldn’t” said Pascal Peduzzi, a researcher at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in an interview with the BBC.
We cannot extract 50 billion tonnes per year of any material without leading to massive impacts on the planet and thus on people’s lives,”
China’s Innovative Approach
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A recent study suggests that China may have discovered a solution to the sand mining crisis.
The Chinese have been using artificial sand—produced by crushing rocks and leftover materials from mining—in many of their construction projects.
Sustaining Rapid Urbanization
This straightforward technique has allowed them to significantly reduce their reliance on natural sand while maintaining the pace of their extensive construction activities.
Over the past 40 years, China has transformed from a developing nation into an economic powerhouse, with rapid urbanization playing a crucial role in its growth.
Depleting Natural Resources
However, this rapid urbanization has led to the depletion of natural construction material reserves, including sand.
Some reports indicate that more than 40% of China’s arable land has been degraded due to unchecked sand mining, pollution, and erosion.
A Turning Point in China’s Sand Crisis
The gravity of this issue became apparent in 2010 when the country saw a significant decline in its natural sand reserves, leading to a sharp increase in the price of construction sand.
In response, the Chinese government began cracking down on illegal sand mining activities to protect these dwindling resources.
A Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly Alternative
This further drove up the cost of natural sand, prompting the construction industry to explore more affordable alternatives, leading to the adoption of manufactured sand, also known as artificial sand.
The technique of producing artificial sand involves using machinery to crush and sift rocks or mine tailings (mining waste) into smaller particles with properties similar to natural sand. Since this process doesn’t involve extracting sand from rivers or beaches, it is both more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Monitoring Sand Usage
The study’s authors developed a monitoring system to track sand usage patterns in China from 1995 to 2020.
Their analysis uncovered several surprising findings. For instance, the production of artificial sand in China began in the early 2000s but gained significant traction around 2010.
Surpassing Natural Sand
That year, China’s supply of natural sand peaked, but the following year, the production of manufactured sand surpassed that of natural sand, becoming the primary material used in construction.
Over the ensuing years, the production of artificial sand continued to grow by 13% annually. By 2020, natural sand accounted for only 21% of China’s total sand supply, an 80% decrease from 2010.
From 80% Natural to 90% Artificial
“China’s overall sand supply surged by approximately 400% over the study period, yet the proportion of natural sand dropped from ≈80% to ≈21% due to the increasing use of manufactured sand,” the study’s authors noted.
“The percentage of manufactured sand in the Chinese market could now be close to 90 percent. The shift from natural sand to manufactured sand is a miracle for a country that has completed such massive infrastructure construction,” said Song Shaomin, a professor at Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, in an interview with SCMP.
Evaluating the Promise of Artificial Sand
While the accuracy of these claims is still under scrutiny, China’s use of artificial sand demonstrates its potential as a viable solution to reduce reliance on natural sand. Other countries might consider adopting this approach to protect their natural sand reserves from degradation.
However, further research is necessary to determine if artificial sand production can be effectively implemented in other regions. Additionally, it’s crucial to understand the limitations and environmental impacts of this process, given that it relies on waste products from mining activities.
