Sugar sand

Sugar sand has multiple meanings:

Sugar sand refers to the debris that settles to the bottom of a container of maple sap once it has reached a sugar concentration of 66-67%. It must be filtered out to complete the maple sugaring process. The substance's main constituent is a calcium salt of malic acid. When filtered maple syrup is reheated above 200 degrees F, sugar sand will again develop and settle to the bottom of the syrup.

Sugar sand is also the local name for a type of fine sandy soil found in the Pine Barrens of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In the U.S. state of Kansas, a type of granular calcite found in Ness and Hodgeman counties is also referred to as "sugar sand".

Sugar sand as a soil type is a component of the baseball rubbing mud used by Major League Baseball as an abrasive to condition new baseballs. It dulls the shiny, slick surface and softens the leather. Sugar sand mud is rubbed into new balls by hand before they are used in play.

References

• Barbara, Philip (14 September 2005). "Magic Mudhole Is Game's Big Secret". Reuters.

• Blumenstock, Bud; Hopkins, Kathy (2007). "How to Tap Maple Trees and Make Maple Syrup" (PDF). The University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-11-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

• "Legends of the Blue Hole". Weird N.J. Retrieved May 2015. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

• Moss, Rycroft G. (1932). "The Geology of Ness and Hodgeman Counties, Kansas (Part III: Stratigraphy: Rocks Exposed)". Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 19. University of Kansas.

• Warren, W.H. "'Sugar Sand' From Maple Sap; A Source of Malic Acid".

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1911, 33 (7), pp 1205–1211 DOI: 10.1021/ja02220a024 Publication Date: July 1911