River beds are being dug up across Africa to ... loss of ecosystems and even deaths. In India, a black market for sand harvesting has emerged, operated by violent sand mafias.

Ninety miles from the sea, bone white against the muddy black banks of the Alabama River, the sand dollar stands out ... outcrops of fossiliferous marine beds,” Toulmin wrote.

Of course, black sand beaches are incredible to visit ... Best of all, there is no fee to enter Wailuku River State Park to witness the falls. One site closer to town you might miss if you ...

These are disguised black sand mining operations. The black sand being hauled out of Cagayan River is worth millions. And our fishermen get nothing but empty nets and murky waters,” France added.