sedimentary

Sandstone (Micaceous/Feldspathic variant)

Arenite (specifically subarkose or lithic arenite)

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Tan, beige, or buff; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Granular/Clastic texture with visible sand-sized grains; Cleavage: None (fractures across grains); Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8

Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale)
Color: Tan, beige, or buff
Luster: Dull to earthy

Identified March 12, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed via the accumulation and lithification of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments. This specimen likely formed in a high-energy environment such as a river bed, beach, or desert dune during various geological periods from the Precambrian to Holocene.

Uses & applications

Widely used as a construction material (dimension stone), in the manufacture of glass (if high silica), and as a reservoir rock for oil and natural gas. Fine-grained versions are used for grindstones.

Geological facts

Sandstone represents about 20-25% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. The famous red rocks of the Grand Canyon and the Nabataean city of Petra are primarily composed of various layers of sandstone.

Field identification & locations

Identify by the 'sandpaper' feel of the surface. It will often show bedding planes or cross-bedding. Common in basins and coastal regions; collectors look for specimens with unique ripple marks or trace fossils.

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