Norway

Sand Origin

Kvitsanden, RørosKindly collected by staff at the Norwegian Geological Survey

Random Sand Fact

Ever heard the saying that every grain of sand holds a story? Well, buckle up for the tale of the oldest grain of sand ever dated in Norway. It’s got quite a story to tell!

3635 million years – that’s the age of it, nearly 1 billion years older than most bedrock in Norway. It hints it must originate from elsewhere – Greenland. 

The sand grains tell a story about ancient oceans, continental collisions, and the birth of Norway’s mountain range. It was thrust onto Norway during a collision.

Not all grains are as good storytellers. This one is of the mineral zircon containing radioactive uranium. Over time, the uranium decays into lead at a constant rate, allowing scientists to determine its age.

As the sands of time shift, so does our understanding of the Earth and all in it!

P.S. Follow OUAW on social media to, in the midst of a sea with sand jewelry, find sand-related stories as yet a Norwegian, one of the world’s largest body of sand D.S.

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