Question

I am in the midst of a world building project and am wondering about green sand from copper oxide/patina material. The material could either be washed into the water from a nearby land deposit or be coming from an exposed deposit on the lakebed or seafloor. Would it be possible to have vibrant blue or green, or would the particles break down onto something of more boring color? How poisonous would such a beach be with a high copper concentration? How would the salinity of the water affect the situation? Any answers would be much appreciated. I haven't been able to find any real-world examples of this happening.

Answer 1

The green color in coastal waters can be caused by hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria, while the blue-green patina on copper structures is caused by the formation of compounds. A beach with green sand would be toxic due to the high copper concentration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The green color in coastal waters can be caused by an eruption of hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria, which release hydrogen sulfide gas as they decompose algae in the water. This phenomenon has been observed in various coastal areas.

The blue-green patina seen on outdoor copper structures, such as the Statue of Liberty, is caused by the formation of compounds like copper(II) oxide and copper carbonates. These compounds create a protective layer on the copper surface, preventing further corrosion.

The high copper concentration in a beach with green sand would be toxic and potentially harmful to aquatic life. The salinity of the water would not significantly affect the situation.