sedimentary

Sandstone

Arenite (primarily SiO2 with various cementing agents)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, brown, yellow, or reddish-brown due to iron oxides; Luster: Dull or earthy; Crystal structure: Granular/clastic; Cleavage: None (breaks across grains); Specific gravity: 2.2-2.8.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Tan, brown, yellow, or reddish-brown due to iron oxides
Luster: Dull or earthy

Identified March 18, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the accumulation and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments of sand size (0.0625 to 2 mm). Usually deposited in river beds, beaches, or deserts. Geological age varies widely from Precambrian to Holocene.

Uses & applications

Major construction material for buildings, paving, and monuments. Used in industry as a source of silica for glass making and as a reservoir rock for petroleum and groundwater.

Geological facts

Sandstone makes up about 20% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. Famous geological formations like the Grand Canyon and the Red Rocks of Sedona are primarily composed of various sandstone layers.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its gritty 'sandpaper' texture and visible bedding planes. Found globally in basins and near mountain ranges. Collectors look for unique banding (wonderstone) or fossil inclusions.

Other sedimentary specimens

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Sandstone or Siltstone

Arenite (if sandstone)

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Sandstone

Arenite (primarily SiO2)

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Chert Breccia

Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)

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Sandstone (Quartz-rich)

Arenite (SiO2)

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Sandstone (with man-made markings)

Arenite (composed primarily of Quartz, SiO2)

sedimentary