Green Sand Beach

Green Sand Beach or Papakolea Beach is located near the southern tip of Hawaii (Big Island). It is not the only green sand beach in the world (I’ve written about that before: Is Papakolea the only green beach) but it is definitely the most famous. It was one of the highlights of my Hawaii trip.

http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089765220994354
Green Sand Beach and an eroded tuff cone Pu’u Mahana.

Green sand is largely composed of mineral olivine which is common in Hawaiian volcanic rocks but it is very uncommon mineral in sand in most circumstances because olivine decays rapidly. Only the toughest minerals survive for a long time in a harsh environment like sand. Green Sand Beach is a natural curiosity and a must-visit location for every geologist visiting Hawaii. It is, by the way, very good bay for swimming.

Green olivine comes from eroded tuff cone that is constantly pounded by the seawaves. There is a picture about this greenish tuff below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089774857858642
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089785647123186
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089804040001810
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089809760686098
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089823769647586
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089830884525650
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089836017624546
Layered tuff that is the source of olivine.
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089845276903490
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089887654741442
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089893608844210
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089907448776242
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089910010812530
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089925287938610
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089935197780562
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089956639450722
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089957324924194
The beach is several kilometers away from paved road. It is possible to go there on four wheels but as you can see the road conditions are quite extreme sometimes. I preferred to walk and enjoy the scenery.
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089994663779490
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089991106111074
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881090006115093874
Olivine-rich tuff.
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089774208087458
http://picasaweb.google.com/107509377372007544953/Hawaii#5881089864699131602