Papakolea Beach: The Green Sand Beach

The Papakolea Beach is one of the four known green sand beach in the world. It is located in Hawaii and also called as the Mahana Beach. Talofofo Beach in Guam, Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands, and Hornindalsvatnet in Norway.

But what makes the sand green in Papakolea Beach? The sand color is due to the presence of a mineral called Olivine. Olivine is a silicate mineral containing iron and magnesium, and is a common mineral component of Hawaiian lavas, because it is one of the first crystals to form as magma cools.