Specific sands are needed for specific purposes, and sometimes they can be a challenge logistically. Further, on human time scales, sand is a non-renewable resource:
* https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20191108-why-the-world-is...
* https://e360.yale.edu/features/the-hidden-environmental-toll...
* https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/27/sand-mining-g...
* https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-ENVIRONMENT/SAND/ygd...
* https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36950075