Fifty billion tons of silica sand are used every year, including in cellphones, computer screens and microchips — hence the name “Silicon Valley.” Of all the raw materials on Earth, only water is consumed more than sand. And the granular substance is being mined faster than it can replenish itself. A U.N. report released last month warned that “immediate actions across all scales of governance are needed to avert a global crisis.”
The construction industry is a particularly heavy user of sand to make concrete, said Stephen Leatherman, a professor of earth and environmental science at Florida International University. “Large buildings require thousands of tons of sand,” said Leatherman, who is also the director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University.
But not all sand is created equal. Desert sand is too round and smooth to create cement strong enough to hold together a building. Countries covered in desert sand, like the United Arab Emirates, have to buy sand from other places. “It’s got to be high-quality sand, silicon dioxide,” Leatherman said.