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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
In another thread, "crepitation" reminded me of singing sand. Some sandy areas are much more noisy underfoot than others, probably depending on how much the sharp edges of the silicon crystals has been rounded by wave or wind action. In some areas, just the wind can cause the noise.
Singing sand
Singing sand is sand that emits sounds of either high or low frequency under pressure. The sound emission is usually triggered by wind passing over dunes or by walking on the sand. The sound is generated by shear stress.
Certain conditions have to come together to create singing sand:
The sand grains have to be round and between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in diameter The sand has to contain silica gel The sand needs a certain humidity The most common frequency emitted seems to be close to 450 Hz.
Other sounds that can be emitted by sand have been described as "roaring" or "booming".
External links Booming sand
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
... Listen to the age old story of The shifting, whispering sand ...
Yes it always whispers to me Of the days of long ago When the settlers and the miners Fought the crafty Navajo How the cattle roamed the valley Happy people worked the land And now everything is covered By the shifting, whispering sand
Oh the miner left his buckboards When he worked his claims that day And the burro's broke their halters When they thought he'd gone to stay How they found the ancient miner Lyin dead upon the sand For months they could but wonder If he died by human hands
So they dug his grave and laid him On his back and crossed his hands And his secret still is hidden By the shifting, whispering sands
This is what they whispered to me Way out in the quiet desert air Of the people and the cattle And that miner lying there
If you want to learn his secret Wander through this quiet land And I'm sure you'll hear the story Of the shifting, whispering sand
... The shifting, whispering sand...
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
The sands along the shore at Tulum, in Quintana Roo, Mexico make noise when walked upon. It is a very fine white sand, almost as fine as talcum powder. Not a good thing in a wind storm, sleeping in a thatched hut. You wake up in the morning and you and everything in the hut resemble an emery board.
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