Sugar sand
Encyclopedia
Sugar sand, found in some areas of the Eastern United States, is a fine silt
made up of ultrafine mineral sand
mixed with a large percentage of organic granules. Because of its lightness it can easily form quicksand
in hollows. In New Jersey, quicksand is often referred to as "sugar sand." Even when dry, sugar sand tends to be too light to support motor vehicles. The name "Sugar Sand" is a common New Jersey expression, and is used by local shops, bands and cultural events. It is also a common name for soil in Florida and the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. The term is also used to describe the sand on beaches in southwestern Michigan, which resembles grains of commercial sugar in size and purity.
The term "sugar sand" also refers to the debris that settles in the bottom of sap once it has reached a density of 66-67% sugar content. It must be filtered out to complete the maple sugaring process.
Sugar sand mud is used by Major League Baseball
as an abrasive
to condition new baseballs. It dulls the shiny, slick surface and softens the leather. Sugar sand mud is rubbed into new balls by hand before they are used in play.
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
made up of ultrafine mineral sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
mixed with a large percentage of organic granules. Because of its lightness it can easily form quicksand
Quicksand
Quicksand is a colloid hydrogel consisting of fine granular matter , clay, and water.Water circulation underground can focus in an area with the optimal mixture of fine sands and other materials such as clay. The water moves up and then down slowly in a convection-like manner throughout a column...
in hollows. In New Jersey, quicksand is often referred to as "sugar sand." Even when dry, sugar sand tends to be too light to support motor vehicles. The name "Sugar Sand" is a common New Jersey expression, and is used by local shops, bands and cultural events. It is also a common name for soil in Florida and the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. The term is also used to describe the sand on beaches in southwestern Michigan, which resembles grains of commercial sugar in size and purity.
The term "sugar sand" also refers to the debris that settles in the bottom of sap once it has reached a density of 66-67% sugar content. It must be filtered out to complete the maple sugaring process.
Sugar sand mud is used by Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as an abrasive
Abrasive
An abrasive is a material, often a mineral, that is used to shape or finish a workpiece through rubbing which leads to part of the workpiece being worn away...
to condition new baseballs. It dulls the shiny, slick surface and softens the leather. Sugar sand mud is rubbed into new balls by hand before they are used in play.