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What is Sea Glass?

We'll answer the main questions and also related questions about what is beach glass and sea glass.

First - Sea Glass or Beach Glass?

• Sea glass is beach glass - beach glass is found on freshwater or saltwater shores, sea glass is found only on saltwater shores.

• Beach glass and sea glass are shards (broken glass) that shows specific characteristics. We'll talk about those characterising next.

• For simplicity's sake and because of its common use, we will sometimes use the term "sea glass" to refer to both fresh and saltwater beach glass.
  

What makes a glass shard (broken glass) into beach glass?

1. Beach glass is glass that has been discarded and ends up on a beach.

2. Then, wave action on a sandy or rocky shore tumbles, rounds, and etches the glass.

3. Sunlight reacts with elements in the glass, contributing to an etched surface and sometimes a change in color.

4. Chemical composition of the water also dissolves (leaches out) certain substances of the glass, contributing to very tiny pitting or etching of the surface of the glass.

What is the difference between beach glass and sea glass?

• The differences between freshwater beach glass and saltwater (sea) glass are so slight that in many

  Where "beach glass" refers to that found on freshwater or ocean shores, the term "sea glass" is beach glass specifically found only on saltwater beaches

  cases no real differences are noticeable.

• However, most freshwater lakes lack enough wave action to tumble the glass. That and the fact that there are so many more miles of saltwater beaches in the world means that most of the beach glass that you will see is from ocean beaches; it is more specifically sea glass.

• Usually, if a piece of beach glass has been found on a lake, that fact will be mentioned.

Is the piece of glass you've found beach glass?

• All surfaces are etched - there are no shiny surfaces.
• There are no sharp edges (the exception would be beach glass that has later been broken, leaving a sharp edge).

How can you tell if what you have found is beach glass (sea glass) or just a pebble?

How to tell:

• Hold it in front of a bright light.

  

• Wet the object thoroughly. There will be a big difference in color, and you will be able to see more light through the glass evenly (if it is very dark, of course, you might not see through it; however, it will be noticeably clear).

What is Sea Glass? - People are Naturally Curious

So, I'll say, "Sea glass," and see how they respond. Some will ask right off, "What IS sea glass?" Some already know what it is.

On the other hand, some are hesitant to let on that they don't know what sea glass is, so then I'll usually ask them if they know what sea glass is.

If they don't know what sea glass is, I'll say something like:

"You know, when you're walking along the beach and you find little pieces of glass of different colors.

Those are from busted up bottles and glassware that have been in the salt water for a long time and because of the currents and the sun and the waves and the sand, they turn out really frosty."

Or, if I'm wearing a piece of sea glass jewelry, I will show them that.

Then, it's like, "Oh, wow!"

Lin Schneider

Identifying Real Sea Glass

• The same is true of sea glass or beach glass.

• One of the best ways to answer the question, "What is sea glass" is to see the real thing. The more you see, the easier it will be to recognize.

Get familiar with the look of genuine sea glass as seen on this site:

Catch of the Day Photos

More Catch Photographs

On Site Sea Glass Pics

Photo Contest Pics

Next, see these pages about collecting and grading sea glass:

Sea Glass Rarity Chart

Grading Sea Glass

Rare Sea Glass

Color Chart