Green sand means greenbacks for Bonander
Green sand salesman Larry Bonander of Desert Aire is certain this mountain of 15 million tons of green sand, left, near Riddle, Oregon will still be around well after his selling days are done. The mound stretches way back to the left.
Larry Bonander of Desert Aire enjoys doing business internationally from his home via the telephone and computer. When he has to follow up with travel, he flies out of Pasco.
DESERT AIRE - After a day of fishing in Mexico, Desert Aire's Larry Bonander was at a Cabo San Lucas swim-up bar exchanging pleasantries with several other business people.
Soon they were all sharing their lines of work. When he said what he did, a man from Vancouver who represents Russian business interests stopped him.
"You sell green sand?" he asked with more than a passing interest.
"Yes I do," Bonander responded with his Cheshire cat grin.
"I need to know more about your product," the man said. "I'm going to Russia soon."
The man from Vancouver, Mark Bradley, eventually made a deal for 40 tons for the Meridian Trading Co., which ships the sand to oil fields in Russia for use in sand blasting.
"They are making a new order as we speak," Bonander said. "They were using sand from China."
Bonander works for Green Diamond Sand Products out of Riddle, Oregon. New uses for the green sand are found periodically.
Desert Aire Golf Course uses it for divot fill. A newly-found use is water jet cutting. When water alone won't cut through a certain material, green sand is added to make it tougher.
Yes, Larry Bonander sells green sand. Sort of.
It's really a green slag by-product of nickel ore processing. It's found only near Riddle in southern Oregon.
"If you go down to that part of the world, you'll find it on the shoulder of every highway and road," Bonander said.
Bonander's green sand came about because of nickel mining. The mining company needed to cool the green slag that resulted so it could be handled and ended up with a marketable product.
Cold water was poured on the slag, and it shattered into sand-like granules. The company was then able to store it in a big pile.
"There are still 15 million tons left," Bonander said. "It's a mountain. It's huge."
One reason the Russians are using Bonander's product is that it has no silica. Real sand does, and Silicosis comes from silica dust.
"Silica is a real big issue in the world today," Bonander said. "You can't use in California any more."
Another reason the Russians like green sand is its durability. They can run the same sand through the sand blaster several times before it wears out or is lost to the elements.
Bonander, 77, has sold sand before. He was selling black sand (copper slag) when he retired at 62. He didn't remain retired for long after Green Diamond came courting with an offer he couldn't refuse.
"They knew I knew what I was doing, and I've been doing it so long I know everybody," Bonander said.
"I love it," he added. "I'm having so much fun."
Bonander works out of his home, relying on his telephone and computer. When he needs to meet a client, he flies out of Pasco.
Sometimes, when things are tough, he has to do business on a company-sponsored fishing trip on the beaches of Mexico.