It is not suitable. Desert sand is too fine-grained and contains salt and other harmful substances to provide the strength and stability needed for construction.
| Comparison Criteria | Desert Sand | Regular Construction Sand |
|---|---|---|
| Particle Size | Very fine particles (typically less than 0.25 mm) | Larger particles (typically 1-3 mm) |
| Shape | Rounded, smooth, lacking angular edges | Coarse, irregular, increasing adhesion |
| Composition | Contains more salts, impurities, and harmful substances | Low in impurities, minimal clay content |
| Strength & Stability | Low strength, poor stability | High strength, suitable for concrete and construction |
| Suitable Applications | Not suitable for direct use in construction | Widely used in concrete, mortar, and other construction purposes |
Sand is one of the key materials in the construction industry, but desert sand is not an ideal choice. The particles of desert sand are usually too fine to meet the standards of concrete and other building materials. Such fine particles lack sufficient strength and stability to effectively carry the weight of a building structure. In addition, desert sand may contain high concentrations of salts and other harmful substances that can corrode reinforcing steel, reduce the durability of concrete, and even cause structural safety issues.
The poor quality and performance of desert sand due to long-term exposure to weathering further limits its use in construction. However, a number of innovative technologies are exploring how desert sand can be utilized to create lightweight and high-strength building materials, or to remove harmful substances through special treatments. The development of these technologies may offer new possibilities for the application of desert sand in construction.
Nonetheless, current construction practices still require the use of dried and screened river or mineral sands, which have large grain sizes (typically 1-3 mm) and low clay content to provide the strength and stability required for building materials. In contrast, desert sand has very small particles (typically less than 0.25 mm) and a high clay content, which can severely weaken concrete if used in concrete production. As a result, desert sand cannot currently be used directly as a building material.
