Green Sand Beach

Olivine is relatively heavy and tends to accumulate on the beach whereas the lighter volcanic sand is swept out to sea.

Green sand beach. A vacation to go to explore unique landscapes and beautiful vistas of. The Green Sand Beach trip was a highlight of our visit to the Big Island. Olivine being denser than the enclosing ash matrix tends to accumulate on the beach whereas the less dense volcanic sand is swept out to sea.

Near the end of South Point Beach Road there is a trailhead parking area for the Green Sand Beach Papakolea. Layered tuff exposure right next to the beach that is the source material of olivine. Officially you can only reach the beach itself on foot.

The reason why therere only 4 green sand beaches in the world is because it takes a special rare type of volcanic lava eruption. Green sand beach is officially known as Papakōlea. The secret of Green Sand Beach is the unique combination of a 49000-year-old cinder cone that spewed olivine-rich lava and a bay that keeps the olivine crystals that are washed out of the rocks trapped.

It washes up on the green sand beach in Hawaii because of the nearby cinder cone. The source of the green coloration of the beach sands is due to the olivine crystals which are winnowed from the eroding headland by the action of the sea. You can read more about this in the green sand trivia section further below.

As you approach the turnoff to the Green Sand Beach it feels like you are at the end of the world as the landscape changes to a Scottish feel. Theres a mineral called olivine in the sand. Mahana Beach is one of just four green sand beaches in the world and it can be found all over the world.

Take Highway 11 from Kona and turn to South Point in between markers 69 and 70. Green Sand Beach Overview. During the eruption the lava brings the green.