1.
iron sand; magnetite sand
Tiny grains of iron-bearing mineral (mostly magnetite) found mixed with ordinary sand on beaches and riverbeds. Magnetic, and historically used in Japan as a raw material for tatara iron-making.
Composed of 砂 (sand) + 鉄 (iron). Refers to the dark, magnetic granules found in sand. Famous in Japan for its use in the traditional たたら製鉄 (tatara iron-making) that produced steel for Japanese swords.
Common collocations
- 砂鉄を集める: collect iron sand
- 磁石に砂鉄がつく: iron sand sticks to a magnet
- 砂鉄採取: iron-sand gathering
- 砂鉄鉱床: iron-sand deposit
Cultural note
Iron-sand collection is a common Japanese elementary-school science experiment: children draw a magnet through beach or playground sand to see the dark iron grains gather around it.