sedimentary
Sandstone (lithic wacke/arenite)
Clastic sedimentary rock (SiO2 + varied clasts)
Hardness: 6-7 (if quartz-rich); Color: Tan, brown, reddish-brown; Luster: Dull, earthy; Crystal structure: Clastic texture (sand-sized grains); Cleavage: None (fractures around grains).
- Hardness
- 6-7 (if quartz-rich)
- Color
- Tan, brown, reddish-brown
- Luster
- Dull, earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (if quartz-rich); Color: Tan, brown, reddish-brown; Luster: Dull, earthy; Crystal structure: Clastic texture (sand-sized grains); Cleavage: None (fractures around grains).
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation and cementation of sand-sized mineral grains or rock fragments (clasts) in environments like riverbeds, deserts, or coastal areas. Can range from hundreds of millions to thousands of years old.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in construction as a building material, road base, or decorative stone. Sometimes used in glass making if high in pure quartz (silica).
Geological facts
Sandstone makes up about 20% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. The famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and the Treasury at Petra are both carved into sandstone formations.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its gritty, sandpaper-like feel and visible grains. Often displays bedding layers. Found globally in basins and mountainous regions where erosion once deposited sand.
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