This fine-grained black sand comes from the Pacific Ocean shore of Fiji, near the mouth of the Vadu River in western Viti Levu, Fiji. It is very rich in magnetite, so much so that it came with the explicit disclaimer that it is truly a natural sand and not an artifical concentrate.         The blackness but shininess of this sand made producing the microscopic view linked below a challenge. The photograph was taken with a polarizing filter in the light path from the sample, so that the reflections were lessened. Go to the lower center of the image to find the best focus.

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