Piha black sand beach and Waitākere Ranges

Piha is a coastal settlement on the western coast of New Zealand's north island. It is 39 km west of Auckland.

It was amazing to see the black sand. I learned that it is primarily a black ironsand composed of titanomagnetite, a mixture of titanium and iron oxides from the erosion of volcanic rock.

This black sand is rich in heavy minerals like magnetite, ilmenite, and hematite. It is carried from volcanic sources like the Taupo Volcanic Zone or Mount Taranaki by rivers and coastal currents, creating the distinctive dark colour.

It was fun to see a handful of sand attach to a magnet our friend had brought along especially to show us.

The mountains in this picture are part of the Waitakere Ranges.