Do you know that there are only four natural green sand beaches in the world? One of them is actually located on the Big Island of Hawaii. This beach is officially known as Papakōlea Beach or as Green Sand Beach.
When we were here, we were very curious about the reason why the sand on Green Sand Beach become green. As we did some research, we found out that this beach is carved out of a 49,000 years old cinder cone belonging to the Mauna Loa volcano. The volcano was home to the green crystals or olivine that give the beach its name. Olivine has super high crystallization temperature compare to other minerals, therefore, becomes one of the first minerals to crystalize from magma. As magma cooling down, these crystals may form and settle at the bottom of the magma chamber because of their high density.
At some point along the way, the cinder cone spewed out the olivine-rich lava into the ocean, and the bay has been washing those crystals ashore ever since. The bay is also responsible for washing the lighter sand out so that the olivine can shine through.
The olivine crystals are amplified because they are mixed in with black rock (lava), white (coral/shells) and sand. The density of olivine determines how green the sand is. This is why some patches may seem a little bit greener than others.
Olivine is known as the Hawaiian Diamond. It is denser and tougher than the ash fragments. Glass and black pyroxene make up the rest of the volcanic material at the beach.
To visit this unique beach, one out of four in the entire world, check out our article on Papakōlea Green Sand Beach.
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