Rabat – Sand from Merzouga, a small village in southeastern Morocco, and that of other regions of the world are the subject of a scientific exhibition which has just opened at the Science and Technology Park (CIENTEC) of The University of São Paulo (USP).
The São Paulo University Science Exhibition, entitled “Sands of the World”, offers visitors the opportunity to observe sand specimens from around the world.
Visitors can discover the specificities of these small rock particles whose size Is between 0.063 and 2 mm, as well as the different elements that contributed to shaping them across regions, reports the agency ANBA, organ of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to the ultra-fine sand and siliceous taken from the famous Merzouga dunes, the exhibition highlights the sand near the pyramids in Egypt and in places as exotic as Disappointment Island in Antarctica, Iceland, Okinawa Japan and the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
Sand samples from Reunion Island, Greece, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, New Zealand, Chile, Mexico, Barbados, Colombia and Thailand, as well as local sand from The States of Maranhao and Sao Paulo, are also presented in this exhibition which will continue until July 29th.
The exhibit also showcases the sand formation process through a section showing rocks and minerals at different stages of disintegration.
The exhibition is the culmination of a project funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and coordinated with the USP’s geoscience department.
According to the organizers, some of the sand samples presented were collected by students from the geophysical department of São Paulo. Others have been offered by researchers and scientific institutions from several countries.
