sedimentary
Glauconitic Sandstone
Greensand (Glauconite-bearing sandstone)
Hardness: 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (sand grains); Color: Dull green to bluish-green often with rusty orange iron staining; Luster: Earthy to dull; Structure: Granular/clastic
- Hardness
- 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (sand grains)
- Luster
- Earthy to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (sand grains); Color: Dull green to bluish-green often with rusty orange iron staining; Luster: Earthy to dull; Structure: Granular/clastic
Formation & geological history
Formed in marine shelf environments with slow sedimentation rates, typically through the alteration of fecal pellets and mica in shallow seawater during the Cretaceous and Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used as a natural slow-release watercolor fertilizer (source of potassium), a water softener, and historically as a pigment. Sometimes used in construction fill.
Geological facts
The green color is primarily due to the mineral glauconite, a potassium iron silicate. It acts as an indicator of a slow rate of sediment accumulation in a marine environment.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive olive-to-dull green color and 'sandy' texture. Commonly found in coastal plain regions like New Jersey (USA) or the Isle of Wight (UK).
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