According to the standard classification of uniform soil, sand is divided into two categories: fine sand and coarse sand. Solid soil particles are called sand if their diameter is between 0.50 and 2 mm. Sand is in very commonly use in construction, often providing bulk, strength and stability to other construction materials such as asphalt, concrete, mortar, render, cement, and screed.

Syria's highest point is Mount Jabal al-Sheikh, 2,814 meters (9,232 feet) on the Lebanese border. Semi-arid steppe zones, nestled between the wet shores of the Mediterranean on one side and the desert on the other, cover about three-quarters of the country. These steppe zones host hot, dry winds blowing through the desert.

Sand is produced by crushing rocks. Coarse stones are produced from the crushing and separation of natural stones, and finer sands, in addition to stones, also contain shells and corals. In civil engineering, aggregates smaller than 75 mm and coarser than 4.75 are called sand. Sands are divided into two categories according to the source and type of grains used in construction.