Final answer:
Sand is a loose granular substance derived from rock erosion, forming a significant part of various environments such as beaches, deserts, and riverbeds. Unique geological processes like wind and water deposition, glacier activity, and wave action in coastal areas shape the distribution and characteristics of sand.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for a loose granular substance, typically pale yellowish brown, resulting from the erosion of siliceous and other rocks and forming a major constituent of beaches, riverbeds, the seabed, and deserts is sand. This material can be found in various environments and is subject to different geological processes. For example, sediment deposited by wind can lead to well-sorted sand typically found in deserts and coastal regions, often observed in places like Algeria. In contrast, sediment deposited by glaciers yields variable grain sizes and is poorly sorted, which can be seen in Southern Patagonia, Argentina. Along coastlines, wave action can transport well-sorted gravel and sand, resulting in high-energy environments such as Island Beach State Park, New Jersey.
Sand is also a component of various geological formations, like caliche, a material ranging from soil to rock, and overwash, which occurs when waves rush over coastal barriers, depositing sand on the leeside. These processes reflect the dynamic nature of sand as a pivotal geological agent. Additionally, sand-sized quartz grains comprise part of the sedimentary rocks and can be affected by moving water in rivers, potentially causing oxidation and resulting in a commonly red coloration.