What is the average diameter of a grain of sand?

Grain size is the average size of the grains in a sediment sample. It is also known as the particle size.

Sand consists of grains of particle size ranging from 0.0625 to 2 mm (0.002–0.08 in.). It pertains to particles that lie between silt and granules on the Wentworth scale of grain size. Sand size class ranges from −1.0 to 4.0 (phi).

Silt consists of grains of particle size ranging from 0.008 to 0.0625 mm (0.0003–0.002 in.). It is intermediate in size between sand and clay. Silt size class ranges from 4.0 to 8.0 (phi).

Clay consists of grains of particle size between silt and colloid. These include any of the various hydrous aluminum silicate minerals that are plastic, are expansive, and have ion-exchange capacities. Clay size class ranges from 8 (phi) and onwards.

Introduction

Sediment is made up of loose particles of...

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Buying options

Chapter

USD   29.95

Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4_148
  • Chapter length: 4 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Buy Chapter

eBookUSD   549.99Price excludes VAT (Canada)

  • ISBN: 978-94-017-8801-4
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Buy eBook

Hardcover BookUSD   549.99Price excludes VAT (Canada)

  • ISBN: 978-94-017-8800-7
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Free shipping worldwide
    Shipping restrictions may apply, check to see if you are impacted.
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Buy Hardcover Book

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Benson, D. J., 1981. Textural analyses with Texas instruments 59 programmable calculator. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 51(2), 61–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blott, S. J., and Pye, K., 2001. GRADISTAT: a grain size distribution and statistics package for the analysis of unconsolidated sediments. Earth Surface Process – Landforms, 26, 1237–1248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coulter Electronics Inc., 1989. Coulter Multisizer AccuComp Color Software: Reference Manual. Florida: Hialeah.

    Google Scholar 

  • Das, G. K., 2009. Grain size analysis of some beach sands from the Indian coasts. Geographical Review of India, 71(1), 10–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. A. D., 1983. Depositional Systems. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folk, R. L., and Ward, W., 1957. Brazos river bar-A study in the significance of grain size parameters. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 27, 3–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, G. M., 1967. Dynamic processes and statistical parameters compared for size frequency distribution of beach and river sands. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 37, 327–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, S. B., and Simpkin, P., 1970. A computer program for the calculation of hydrometer size analyses. Marine Geology, 9, M23–M29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kane, W. T., and Hubert, J. F., 1962. FORTRAN program for the calculation of grain-size textural parameters on the IBM 1620 computer. Sedimentology, 2, 87–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krumbein, W. C., and Pettijohn, F. J., 1938. Manual of Sedimentary Petrography. New York: D. Appleton – Century.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moiola, R. J., and Weiser, D., 1968. Textural parameters: an evaluation. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 38, 45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muerdter, D. R., Dauphin, J. P., and Steele, G., 1981. An interactive computerized system for grain size analysis of silt using electro-resistance. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 51, 647–650.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poppe, L. J., Eliason, A. H., and Fredericks, J. J., 1985. APSAS: An Automated Particle-Size Analysis System. U.S. Geological Survey Circular, vol 963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigler, J. K., Collins, M. B., and Williams, S. J., 1981. A high – precision digital recording sedimentation tower for sands. Journal Sedimentary Petrology, 51, 642–644.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer, M.B., 1977. Computer Program for the Calculation of Grain-Size Statistics by the Method of Moments. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 77–580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlee, J., 1966. A modified woods hole rapid sediment analyzer. Journal Sedimentary Petrology, 30, 403–413.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlee, J., and Webster, J., 1967. A computer program for grain-size data. Sedimentology, 8, 45–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Syvitski, J. P. M., Asprey, K. W., and Clattenburg, D. A., 1991. Principles, design and calibration of settling tubes. In Syvitski, J. P. M. (ed.), Principles, Methods and Applications of Particle Size Analysis. New York: Cambridge University Press, pp. 3–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Visher, G. S., 1969. Grain size distributions and depositional processes. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 39(3), 1074–1106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wentworth, C. K., 1932. The mechanical composition of sediments in graphic form. University of Iowa Studies in Natural History, 14(3), 127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeigler, J. M., Whitney, G. G., Jr., and Hayes, C. R., 1960. Woods hole rapid sediment analyzer. Journal Sedimentary Petrology, 30, 490–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeigler, J. M., Hayes, C. R., and Webb, D. C., 1964. Direct readout of sediment analyses by settling tube for computer processing. Science, 145, 51.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, 700 032, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Gautam Kumar Das

Authors

  1. Gautam Kumar Das

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gautam Kumar Das .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

    Michael J. Kennish

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this entry

Cite this entry

Das, G.K. (2016). Sediment Grain Size. In: Kennish, M.J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Estuaries. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4_148

What is the diameter of a grain of sand?

Any particles from 0.06mm to 2.0mm are considered to be sand. Particles larger than size 5 are considered gravel.

What is the diameter of a grain of sand in inches?

Sand—rock fragments or mineral particles that range in diameter from about 1/16 to 2 mm (from 0.002 to 0.08 inches).

What is the average size of a grain?

The average grain size had grown to about 300 nm. The microstructural features of particular importance are dislocations within the grains and in the grain boundary.

How big is a grain of fine sand?

Sand grains are technically defined as having diameters between about 0.0625 mm (very fine sand) to 2.0 mm (very coarse sand).