Even Sand Isn’t Infinite

The number of grains of sand on a beach is a classic example of an “infinite” number, in the sense that it would be impossible to count. But sand itself isn’t infinite. Demand for sand is way up, around the world, because it’s a key ingredient for some boom industries like concrete for construction and fracking for oil and gas drilling. But even lowly sand plays a role in many ecosystems. I’ve been commenting about the global market for sand for more than a decade nowg (for example, here, here, and here), but for those who would like an introduction or an update to the topic, the UN Environmental Program has published “Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development” (April 2026). From the “Introduction”: Sand, gravel, crushed rock and aggregates (hereinafter ‘sand resources’) are the most consumed solid materials on Earth (UNEP 2022). As fundamental ingredients in contemporary concrete and construction materials more broadly, sand has played — and continues…