sedimentary

Glauconitic Sandstone

Glauconitic Quartz Arenite

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (quartz matrix), Color: Dull green, blue-green, or olive-drab, Luster: Earthy to pearly, Structure: Granular/clastic, Specific Gravity: 2.4-2.85

Identified June 22, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (quartz matrix), Color: Dull green, blue-green, or olive-drab, Luster: Earthy to pearly, Structure: Granular/clastic, Specific Gravity: 2.4-2.85

Formation & geological history

Formed in marine continental shelf environments under reducing conditions, typically through the alteration of fecal pellets or silicate minerals. Most deposits date from the Cambrian to the Cenozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a slow-release potassium fertilizer (greensand), a water softener due to its ion-exchange properties, and occasionally as a pigment or soil conditioner.

Geological facts

Glauconite is often referred to as 'greensand' and its presence is a definitive indicator of a marine depositional environment. It requires very slow rates of sedimentation to form.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its characteristic 'dirty' green color and crumbly texture. It is commonly found in coastal plain sedimentary sequences such as those in New Jersey, USA, or the Isle of Wight.