Armenia
Sand Origin
Arteni, Aragatsotn Perlite deposit
Random Sand Fact
Can sand pop like popcorn?
At Arteni in Armenia, there are large deposits of perlite, a volcanic glass formed during ancient eruptions.
When the perlite is mined, it is crushed into sand. A small amount of water is trapped inside each grain.
When the sand grains are heated rapidly, the water turns to steam. The pressure makes the grains expand, much like popcorn, increasing their volume by as much as around twenty times.
The result is an extremely light, porous material used in construction, insulation and horticulture.
