sedimentary
Sandstone Pebble
Arenite (primarily Quartz, SiO2)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Tan, yellowish-brown; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Clastic (sand-sized grains); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Tan, yellowish-brown
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Sandstone Pebble in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Tan, yellowish-brown; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Clastic (sand-sized grains); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and cementation of sand-sized mineral grains or rock fragments. This specimen appears water-worn, suggesting a fluvial (river) or coastal environment where it was smoothed by abrasion.
Uses & applications
In this small pebble form, it is primarily a decorative garden stone or a river rock. Large sandstone deposits are used widely in construction for paving, building facades, and as abrasive material.
Geological facts
Sandstone accounts for roughly 20 to 25 percent of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. Its porosity makes it an important aquifer for storing groundwater and a reservoir for petroleum.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its gritty texture (feels like sandpaper) and visible grains. Often found in riverbeds, beaches, and sedimentary basins worldwide. Collectors look for unique banding or 'Liesegang rings'.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary