sedimentary
Sandstone (specifically Cross-bedded Sandstone)
Arenite (composed primarily of SiO2)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Tan, gray, and brown banding; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Granular/Clastic; Cleavage: None (breaks across grains); Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Tan, gray, and brown banding
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
Identified More sedimentary →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Tan, gray, and brown banding; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Granular/Clastic; Cleavage: None (breaks across grains); Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and lithification of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments. The distinct angled layers (cross-bedding) indicate formation in a high-energy environment such as a desert dune field or a river channel where water or wind currents shifted direction over time.
Uses & applications
Used extensively as a building material and decorative stone in construction; crushed for use in concrete and asphalt; and as a reservoir rock for oil, gas, and groundwater in the energy industry.
Geological facts
Cross-bedding provides geologists with a 'paleocurrent direction,' allowing them to map the direction winds or rivers were flowing millions of years ago. Some of the most famous sandstone formations are in the American Southwest, such as the Navajo Sandstone of Zion National Park.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible layered structures. It can be found globally in sedimentary basins. Collectors look for unique banding patterns like 'Wonderstone' or distinct trace fossils.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone (Quartz-rich)
Arenite (SiO2)
sedimentary
Sandstone (with man-made markings)
Arenite (composed primarily of Quartz, SiO2)
sedimentary