
SplendidSands
Exploring the Science and Beauty of Sand
Dead Horse Beach, Salem, Massachusetts

The name Dead Horse Beach goes back to the 1850s when this site was far enough from town to be a good place to bury dead horses; today, it’s popular with beachgoers.
Weathered shards of blue mussels (Mytilus) give this sand its unusual texture and blue and white colors. The flattened profile of these grains reflects the shell’s sheet-like inner construction.
Blue mussels are common in the coastal waters of the North and Mid-Atlantic. They feed by filtering organic particles (mostly phytoplankton) from the water column. Mussels are an important prey item for lobsters, crabs, whelks, gulls and diving ducks and a popular seafood item on menus today.
A green sea urchin spine fragment sits just below center. Sprinkled throughout are mineral grains of eroded granite.


Leo Kenney

Leo Kenney

Leo Kenney