sedimentary

Glauconitic Sandstone

Glauconitic Sandstone (Greensand)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (silica cement); Color: olive green, dark green, or grayish-green; Luster: dull to earthy; Texture: Granular/Sandy; Specific Gravity: 2.4 to 2.85.

Hardness: 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (silica cement)
Color: olive green, dark green, or grayish-green
Luster: dull to earthy

Identified July 10, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 2-3 (glauconite) to 7 (silica cement); Color: olive green, dark green, or grayish-green; Luster: dull to earthy; Texture: Granular/Sandy; Specific Gravity: 2.4 to 2.85.

Formation & geological history

Formed in marine shelf environments through the slow accumulation of minerals in shallow, oxygen-depleted seawater. Most deposits range from Cretaceous to Cenozoic in age.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a soil conditioner and natural fertilizer (high potassium content), water softener, and historically as a pigment. Sometimes used in local construction.

Geological facts

The green color comes from the mineral glauconite, an iron potassium silicate. Large deposits are famously found in the New Jersey coastal plain and parts of the UK.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive greenish-gray granular appearance and tendency to crumble into sand-like grains when weathered. Common in coastal sedimentary basins.