Coral sand

Coral sand is a form of aragonite sand particles originating in tropical and sub-tropical marine environments primarily from bioerosion of limestone skeletal material of marine organisms.

Coral sand mining is a significant industry in some areas, and can have damaging environmental effects.

Over 500,000 tons of coral sand were mined annually from Mauritius until being banned in October 2001.

[citation needed] Exploitive collection has moved from the depleted areas off Tanzania and Kenya to the islands of Zanzibar and Mafia.

It is estimated that, at the current rate of consumption, the supply of living coral rock from inner atoll ‘faros’ in North Malé will be exhausted within 30 years.