What Beach In Florida Has Quartz Sand?

Siesta Key Beach has quartz sand. Other local beaches also have some quartz sand but Siesta Key Beach sand is around 99% quartz sand. The sand supposedly originated in the Appalachian Mountains which reach as far south as Alabama but reached Siesta Key by flowing down rivers long ago.

Florida Beaches

Pure White Sand On Florida's Gulf Of Mexico

Panama City Beach sand is also made of broken down, bleached and polished quartz crystal. As you will see most of the white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico are made up of this similar composition. Soft sand is the norm and it is thanks to the Appalachian Mountains. Even during the hottest summer months quartz crystal makes the beach feel soft to the point if it is not wet it can be difficult to walk on.

Mexico Beach is a small sliver of a beach highly thought of by the affluent beach enthusiast. Mexico Beach is just under one hour east on US-98 from Panama City Beach. Don't expect much here other than a little privacy as Mexico Beach is rather isolated. That is why so many locals love it here. You will find shell fragments mixed into the white sand at most beaches off the more beaten paths.

Clearwater Beach which is located in Central Florida and also has the same sand as most of the beaches on the gulf coast. One of the many things that makes a public beach so special is knowing that quartz particles from the last ice age are actually still cooling your feet. The browner the sand the more glass content and the hotter that it can get in the Florida sun on the hottest days. Give me good ole white sand beaches to keep my feet cool every time !

Swimming in The Gulf Of Mexico Beaches

Until you visit a beach here this is hard to believe. After you venture away from the shoreline and enter the waves you cannot find a rock in most instances. When you see an edge it is usually from current and the same soft sand is present on both sides of it. Coral is very rarely found next to any Florida beach far from the Florida Keys. Our beaches are nothing like Hawaii.

Visit The Beach At Night For A Walk

Something unique will happen but it may take effort. Drag your feet through the cool quartz sand and slightly stir it up in the ocean waves. Bioluminescent algae will light up as green specs when the water is warm. They are usually found when the water is warmest and ocean is the calmest. Imagine them glowing as a greenish blue light just for a moment and then fading away. Just one more really cool thing about the west coast powder soft sand beaches.

The Best Beaches In The Sunshine State Siesta Beach & Clearwater Beach

Siesta Key is a barrier island in Sarasota County. Siesta Key is known for the width of the beach being so wide that walking paths had to be built to get visitors to the wet packed sand. Siesta Key Village is the adjacent shopping and dining location will track that beautiful beach sand into. Another point of interest is the small island off the north end known as Sand Dollar Island. My wife went there all the time as a little girl to pick them up and throw them back into the gulf.