{"id":1048,"date":"2022-03-08T14:53:55","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T19:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beachfix.com\/?p=1048"},"modified":"2022-03-08T14:53:56","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T19:53:56","slug":"what-is-sea-glass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beachfix.com\/beach-activities\/what-is-sea-glass\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Sea Glass and Where To Find It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever noticed tiny pieces of colorful ‘stones’ or ‘gems’ on the beach? This may have been sea glass! One of the most unique beach activities<\/a> you can participate in is hunting for naturally occurring sea glass that makes for beautiful photo ops. In this guide, we’re going to answer all your questions about this beautiful treasure and tell you where you can find it for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, what is sea glass (also called beach glass), and where did it come from? Where can we find it? Let’s get answers to these questions and more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is sea glass?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sea glass is just that \u2013 glass found at sea due to man-made and natural occurrences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, glass objects, including perfume bottles, car tail lights, medicine bottles, and more have been dumped out. Oceans have collected these, and sea glass has been formed over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little history: <\/em>Before the 1960s, much of the US coastland was still uninhabited or sparsely inhabited. Recycling and trash pickup were nonexistent in some places. Littering was also not frowned upon because most garbage wasn’t toxic, a lot of waste was biodegradable, and disposal was time-consuming and costly. That’s why it was so common to dump trash directly into around oceans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As oceans have collected trash like ship lanterns, wine bottles, and other items have broken, waves have smoothed out sharp edges to create natural sea glass. Over some time, the broken glass was no longer an unwanted piece of litter. Instead, it has become a captivating piece of nature that’s been tumbled into a smooth, colorful, and perfectly-shaped gem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything made of glass can become sea glass if the environment is right. The natural processes of the ocean result in various shapes, colors, and textures among finished pieces of glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this is how true sea glass comes to be, some people create artificial sea glass from recycled glass bottles and other objects. Many sea glass lovers do this to sell it as jewelry or decorative pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sea glass comes from old pieces of bottles, lights, etc. that have been shaped by natural effects. (Credit: Chris West Photography\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Is it sea glass or beach glass?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While you will hear these terms used interchangeably, sea glass is what we find in saltwater (like the beach), and beach glass is what we find in freshwater (like the lake). Since the natural factors that create these glasses are somewhat different, they look similar but not the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main rule of thumb: sea glass is usually has a more frosty appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different Shapes and Sizes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Glass from the sea has no uniform shape or size because the naturally occurring factors vary. The age of the glass and the waves, rocks, and currents all play a role in how a piece of glass is formed. This is why no two pieces of glass are the exact same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that said, there are some common formations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n