Coral sand is a form of aragonitesand particles originating in tropical and sub-tropical marine environments primarily from bioerosion of limestone skeletal material of marine organisms. Often, this is due to corallivores, such as parrotfish, which excrete sand after digestion.[1] However, the term "coral" in coral sand is used loosely in this sense to mean limestone of recent biological origin; corals are not the dominant contributors of sand particles to most such deposits. Rather, coral sand is a mix of coral and/or remnant skeletal fragments of foraminifera,[2] calcareous algae, molluscs, and crustaceans . Because it is composed of limestone, coral sand is acid-soluble.
Coral sand mining is a significant industry in some areas, and can have damaging environmental effects. Over 500,000 tons of coral sand are mined annually from Mauritius. Many Comoros beaches have been scarred by sand mining. Over 250 tons of shells and corals were exported from Tanzania in 1974[citation needed]. Exploitive collection has moved from the depleted areas off Tanzania and Kenya to the islands of Zanzibar and Mafia.
Such extensive mining can be very harmful to reefecosystems and beaches. It is estimated that, at the current rate of consumption, the supply of living coral rock from inner atoll ‘faros’ in North Malé will be exhausted within 30 years.[3]
^Biology of parrotfishes. Andrew S. Hoey, Roberta Martini Bonaldo. Boca Raton, FL. 2018. ISBN978-1-315-11807-9. OCLC 1028214189.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
^Yamano, H.; Miyajima, T.; Koike, I. (2000-04-01). "Importance of foraminifera for the formation and maintenance of a coral sand cay: Green Island, Australia". Coral Reefs. 19 (1): 51–58. doi:10.1007/s003380050226. ISSN 1432-0975.
^Brown, Barbara E.; Dunne, Richard P. (1988). "The Environmental Impact of Coral Mining on Coral Reefs in the Maldives". Environmental Conservation. 15 (2): 159–165. doi:10.1017/S0376892900028976. ISSN 1469-4387.
March 30, 2023
coral, sand, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 2017, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Coral sand news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Coral sand is a form of aragonite sand particles originating in tropical and sub tropical marine environments primarily from bioerosion of limestone skeletal material of marine organisms Often this is due to corallivores such as parrotfish which excrete sand after digestion 1 However the term coral in coral sand is used loosely in this sense to mean limestone of recent biological origin corals are not the dominant contributors of sand particles to most such deposits Rather coral sand is a mix of coral and or remnant skeletal fragments of foraminifera 2 calcareous algae molluscs and crustaceans Because it is composed of limestone coral sand is acid soluble Coral sand from a beach on ArubaEnvironmental issues EditCoral sand mining is a significant industry in some areas and can have damaging environmental effects Over 500 000 tons of coral sand are mined annually from Mauritius Many Comoros beaches have been scarred by sand mining Over 250 tons of shells and corals were exported from Tanzania in 1974 citation needed Exploitive collection has moved from the depleted areas off Tanzania and Kenya to the islands of Zanzibar and Mafia Such extensive mining can be very harmful to reef ecosystems and beaches It is estimated that at the current rate of consumption the supply of living coral rock from inner atoll faros in North Male will be exhausted within 30 years 3 See also EditCoral ragNotes Edit Biology of parrotfishes Andrew S Hoey Roberta Martini Bonaldo Boca Raton FL 2018 ISBN 978 1 315 11807 9 OCLC 1028214189 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Yamano H Miyajima T Koike I 2000 04 01 Importance of foraminifera for the formation and maintenance of a coral sand cay Green Island Australia Coral Reefs 19 1 51 58 doi 10 1007 s003380050226 ISSN 1432 0975 Brown Barbara E Dunne Richard P 1988 The Environmental Impact of Coral Mining on Coral Reefs in the Maldives Environmental Conservation 15 2 159 165 doi 10 1017 S0376892900028976 ISSN 1469 4387 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coral sand amp oldid 1143239718, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
