SplendidSands

   The volcanic island of Reunion sits east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It is a land of contrasts and includes pristine beaches with offshore reefs, the active volcano Piton de la Fournaise and lush mountain terrain in between.

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   In this sand, the black basalt grains and crystals of green olivine reflect the island’s volcanic origins. The bits that reflect life on the reef include the creamy-tan weathered remains of coralline algae and the bivalve shells, at center, plus the glassy white triangular and rod-shaped shards near 1 o’clock. The brown rod is a sea urchin spine; other small urchin spine fragments show dark and lighter concentric bands. The lavender rod at 5 o’clock reveals the spine’s internal structure. The highly-polished grains suggests a high wave-energy environment.