Quicksand has always been more myth than science to writers of fiction. Beyond that, it was even described as "round grains of sand" by no less than the Encyclopedia Britianica many years after the Army Corps of Engineers had conclusively identifed its nature as a phenomena rather than a substance in and of itself. But like all myths,its "working" definition lies in the nature of its context. And for writers, that context will always remain mythical. The following are some of the myths about quicksand. Click here to see Quicksand Facts.
Contrary to this popular belief, quicksand does not "...suck you down" but rather, anyone who steps into it will sink just as they would in any other liquid. Since it is very thick, there may be a great deal of suction and resistance if the person is wearing boots or flat-soled shoes, which may account for this myth. However, unless the person is carrying a very heavy load (like a full backpack) that makes them less bouyant, he or she will only sink to their chest or sholders. Since quicksand and thin mud are more dense than water, it is easier to float, and almost impossible to sink completely under!
Although the name "Quick" sand literally implies "living-sand", it is not alive. The misnomer probabaly comes from the change from a solid to a moving, rippling semi-liquid that occurs when someone steps onto it. This might give the appearance of the ground "coming to life" but it is certainly not in any way alive. Another myth is that leaches, worms and other things live in quicksand. Since it is too wet for most worms, etc. and too solid for leaches, crabs, etc. there is seldom anything alive in quicksand. In fact, since leaches prefer stagnent, muddy water, and quicksand occurs usually around moving water, it is a much less likely place to find creepy-crawly things!
Quicksand is not some magical "magnet" or super-suction device that grips your feet as soon as you step onto it. Unlike the image portrayed by many uninformed authors and bad hollywood actors, someone who has stepped into quicksand and sinks in only an inch or so will not be stuck! In fact, one can usually get out without much problem ... even after sinking half way to their knees! The difficulty in getting out of quicksand is not because it grabs you and holds you, but because you end up floating in a semi-solid/semi-liquid with no solid ground with which to pull yourself out. Quick clay and silt can prove to have a tenatious grip if you sink in wearing boots or shoes, but no more so than simple, ordinary mud.
Well, as Hollywood usually protrays it, this is true. But in reality, quicksand is much more common than one might think. In fact, just about any body of water near somewhat sandy soil will most likely have some areas of quicksand, although it may only be a few inches deep!
Unless the person sank in to the other side of the world, this can't be true! Yes, there are areas of very deep quicksand, but most quicksand is anywhere from just a few inches deep to less than waist-deep. Because really deep quicksand takes a great amount of water pressure from beneath ( see Quicksand Facts) it is seldom of the "bottomless pit" style of the movies, so an encounter with it is usually not dangerous, but just an embarrassing and messy experience.
The truth is, most "quicksand" is either deep mud, a quaking bog, or just spongy ground. However, one can get stuck in any of these just as easily!
Many thanks to foster149@aol.com for some of these materials.