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While China leads in sand consumption, extracting more than half the world's supply, rapidly urbanizing countries like India are also emerging as significant players in the sand mining industry. China alone excavated 7.5 billion tons in one year, dwarfing the rest of the global demand.
The Environmental Toll of Sand Mining
Unfortunately, the sand mining industry comes with severe environmental ramifications. This extraction often occurs at 25 times the natural replenishment rate, leading to ecological disruptions. As sediments are removed, water bodies have become increasingly vulnerable to flooding, poisoning from heavy metals, and increasing salinity levels.