Sand

Sand is a naturally spawning block that is found in desert biomes and is the only block that can grow cacti. Sand can be smelted to make glass.

As of 0.6.0, sand and Gravel obey physics; i.e. they will fall if nothing is supporting it. Sand is one of only five Blocks that follow the effect of physics, the other items being gravel, water, lava, and TNT when primed.

Sand will no longer fall immediately after generating a world, first a block must be placed or broken near the block, otherwise it won't fall.

Crafting

 * Sandstone, requiring 4 sand for 1 sandstone.


 * TNT can be crafted with 4 Sand and 5 Gunpowder

Smelting

 * Glass can be smelted in a furnace. 1 sand is one glass.

Red Sand
Coming in Update 0.9.0, there will be a variant of sand known as Red Sand. This sand type is exclusive to the Mesa Biome.

Glitch
While underground, if you bury yourself in Gravel or Sand and then immediately exit the world (While still suffocating) when you re-enter the world, you will be in above the blocks that you were standing in. This could just make you stand on top of the gravel, but if done in the right curcumstances, it can teleport you out of a mine or cave. This is only known to work on Android devices

Another Glitch is that sand can occasionally have a blast resistance.

Trivia

 * Sugar Cane will grow slightly faster on sand then it will on Dirt
 * Sand is one of the few blocks that obey physics.
 * Cactus and Dead Bushes are the only plant that can grow on sand. Cactus naturally while dead bushes will only do so in Update 0.9.0.
 * Sand can easily succumb to explosions.
 * Sand, along with gravel can be used as a redstone alternative.

Plants
Cactus- Naturally spawns on sand in quantities.

Dead Bush- Artificially placed. In update 0.9.0 it will spawn naturally.