From Shanghai to Seattle, the world’s cities are built on sand - massive amounts of sand. It’s in the cement and concrete that make the bulk of most buildings. The glass in those buildings’ windows is ...

What is “sand mining” and why is it bad for the environment? – O.H., via email Answer: Sand mining, extracting sand from the ...

Demand for sand has risen rapidly in recent decades, leading to overexploitation in some areas. The resource is particularly vulnerable to illegal mining given its seeming abundance. Extraction of ...

Sand mining by politically connected companies has been blamed for the collapse of riverbanks along the Mekong and Bassac rivers in Cambodia. Affected residents say they’ve lost their homes and their ...