WHITE SANDS, N.M. (KRQE) – White Sands National Park is answering one of their most frequently asked questions. As part of this week’s edition of No Stupid Questions, the park said that on a daily basis, they’re asked: “Why is the sand white?”
According to park officials, it’s because the sand is made of gypsum, a soft, white mineral that breaks down easily and dissolves in water. The park said their gypsum came from the floor of an ancient sea that used to cover the area nearly 300 million years ago.
But every time this question is asked, officials say a follow-up question soon follows: ‘Is it really gypsum, not sand?” The answer is no, it is still sand because sand is defined by grain size, not composition. They add that gypsum is a rare form of sand, making the national park so special.