Become A Sand Collector
Hosah Park, Lake Michigan, Zion, Illinois, USA | Photo by Leo Kenney
HOME / THE HOBBY / BECOME A COLLECTOR
Sand collecting is a low cost, low stress hobby which might involve visiting beautiful beaches and interesting locations. The actual collecting is simple. Put some sand in a container and label it with location data. Repeat a few times and you have the beginnings of a sand collection. Put the samples in appropriately labeled containers and you are a sand collector.
The purpose and use of a collection will vary by collector. Those considerations will determine the collecting location, sample size, storage containers, type of display and other aspects of your collection.
The suggestions below are useful guidelines for building a collection.
This simple collection from favorite beaches displayed in attractive bottles is an interesting conversation piece in the collector’s home. The jars may be turned so the labels do not show. Grace Riley Collection.
Field Collecting Equipment
Sample containers.
Collect sand in plastic zip closure baggies, or nearly anything damp-proof, easy to carry and sealable. Damp or wet sand will leak water from an inappropriate container. The sand itself will escape. Zip closure bags of various sizes are favored by most collectors. An empty water bottle works as a substitute — you don’t have to fill it!
Permanent marker.
Mark the container using a permanent marker or include a label inside the container. Permanent markers are labeled “permanent”. However, many markerinks will easily rub off of plastic. Experiment with your equipment.
Plastic containers and water provide difficult conditions for labels. Gel ink and many other inks bleed when wet. Wet bags are difficult to label even with permanent markers. Label the empty bag rather than trying to write on a wet, lumpy surface of a filled bag.
Fair warning! You will forget where a sample was collected. Label them in the field.
Digging tool.
Use a metal spoon or a trowel for digging and scooping sand into a baggie. It is very useful when the sand is rough and compacted. On beaches, shells make good scoops. Use a plastic card to skim layers of sand, particularly dark, heavy mineral layers.
Notebook, cell phone & magnifying glass.
Record details about the collecting location in the notebook or cell phone. Are you collecting at the tide line, the edge of the water, in a dune field, at the base of rocks, etc. Use the magnifying glass or phone camera to view sand contents in the field. Photograph the location with the phone and also record GPS data.
Important Note: One should be mindful about the areas being explored and if that area is private or restricted land. Also, there are areas on federal, state, and city/town lands that restrict people from collecting items. Be aware of where you are and if you may take sand from that area.
The ISCS is not responsible for the actions of any of its members.
A basic field collecting kit of a digging tool, containers and data collecting equipment is easy to assemble and takes little space. A cell phone is useful for site photos, recording GPS and keeping notes.
Labels and Data
A sand collection requires records of the contents from acquisition through display. Sand without location information is useless in a collection.
Sand samples should be logged into a notebook, spreadsheet or other organized data base as soon as you get them. The overall information recorded is your choice but the minimum for each sample would be collecting location which includes beach name, city, state and country. You might add to this date collected, collector, GPS coordinates and other data. Assign a number or other identifier to each sample.
Be as specific as you can for location. For example, on a beach you might find a variety of samples at low tide line, high tide, swash zone, dunes, or different areas along the beach. Each sample would have the specific location listed and might be distinguished as Location A, Location B, etc.
Samples acquired as trades and gifts need similar treatment. If your traded samples only have a number on them which refers to a data sheet, you need to both label the sample and record the data in your master list. Do it before you lose the information sheet. It is good practice to indicate in your database the source of the sample which could be the collector or trading partner.
When labeling containers, resist the urge to put your inventory number or other data only on the removeable cover. Covers can easily be placed on the wrong container. Again, be sure your label stays with the sand.
Various labels as found on samples being offered at the 2022 Sandfest in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Storage and Display
You will want to store you sand in small zip closure baggies, vials, tubes, etc. Your storage containers might also be your display containers. Or you might display some and store the rest. It really is all up to you.
Standard sand samples are 30 ml (two tablespoons) but not everyone collects 30 ml samples. 15 ml and 5 ml are also being popular. Some collectors prefer much larger samples, some up to a liter. Choose your storage containers based on the sample size you wish to collect. Determine your sample size with space and weight considerations and container cost in mind. A sand collection can grow quite rapidly. Plan ahead.
Sand displays are the opportunity for artistic expression and education. Use your imagination and check our Photo Galleries and the internet for inspiration for home and public displays.
IMPORTANT REMINDER. Sand in displays still needs to be labeled. The label need not be visible but it must be present. Labels can be put into the container and be hidden by the sand. They can be on the backside of the container, top or bottom. They could be minimized and placed consistently to become part of the display design. Be sure to use permanent markings, well adhered labels and even heavy clear tape over the label to keep it in place.
Using only a number on the container which then refers to a master list is risky. If (when) the list gets separated from the containers, the sand is no longer labeled. The same is true if the number falls off. Include some type of label inside the container, buried in the sand, to prevent “mystery sands”.
Hint: If you display sand publicly, everyone wants to read the labels to look for areas they know.
Containers of various sizes that one might use for a sand collection or display. As your collection grows, consider the weight of the sand and the expense of the containers.
A collection of small vials with uniform labels taped at bottom edge. Kate Clover collection.
Be creative and artistic. April Lind collection. (Photo by Leo Kenney.)
A display of a large sand collection in a home is colorful and attention getting. Hans Zimmerman collection and photo.
Labels printed with some label makers on clear tape provide information without being obtrusive. Kyle Kunnecke collection and photo.