Why is quartz the most common mineral in Earth’s dune sands?

Quartz is the most common mineral in Earth’s dune sands primarily because of its high resistance to both physical and chemical weathering.123

Several key factors contribute to its dominance:

• Durability: Quartz is comparatively hard and lacks cleavage, meaning it is not easily worn down by mechanical processes.1
• Chemical Inertness: It is nearly insoluble in water and does not readily decompose, unlike many other minerals that are broken down and removed in solution during the weathering of rocks.123
• Abundance: Quartz exists in large quantities within many igneous and metamorphic rocks. As these rocks weather away, the more soluble minerals are carried away, leaving behind the resistant quartz grains to accumulate in sedimentary deposits like sandstone.23

Because of these properties, quartz becomes enriched in river, lake, and beach sediments, which serve as the primary sources for windblown sand. While other minerals can form dunes under specific local conditions—such as volcanic ash or gypsum—quartz remains the most prevalent constituent of dune sands globally.23