Sand is the most extracted material on Earth and is essential for concrete and construction, but the world is using river sand faster than nature can replace it, Inc. reports.  Global consumption has reached about 55 billion tons per year, and construction-related demand could increase by as much a s 45% by 2060. River sand is especially valuable because its size and shape make stronger concrete, while desert sand is often too fine and rounded for the same purpose. The shortage is already creating economic and environmental consequences. Construction sand prices in the U.S. have risen significantly, while countries such as Vietnam are extracting sand more than 11 times faster than it can naturally replenish.  Stricter mining regulations can also cause dramatic price increases and contribute to illegal mining and violence. Excessive river and seabed mining damages ecosystems, destabilizes riverbanks, increases erosion and saltwater intrusion and has even contributed to the disappearance of islands. Researchers are therefore looking for alternatives, including desert sand, recycled concrete and industrial or plant-based byproducts. Studies suggest that replacing some river sand with these materials can maintain concrete strength, although completely replacing river sand with desert sand can weaken the material.  New additives and technologies can also strengthen concrete made with recycled or lower-quality aggregates. These developments could help the construction industry become more circular while reducing dependence on increasingly scarce river sand. Inc. has the full story. ...read more read less