sedimentary
Sandstone (Quartzose Sandstone)
Clastic Sedimentary Rock (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (due to quartz content); Color: Tan, beige, or grey with a salt-and-pepper appearance; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal structure: Granular/Clastic; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.1 - 2.8.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale (due to quartz content)
- Color
- Tan, beige, or grey with a salt-and-pepper appearance
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (due to quartz content); Color: Tan, beige, or grey with a salt-and-pepper appearance; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal structure: Granular/Clastic; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.1 - 2.8.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and cementation of sand-sized mineral grains or rock fragments. This specimen shows signs of mechanical weathering and rounding, likely shaped by water transport in a river or coastal environment over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used widely as a building material, in paving, and as an abrasive. Fine-grained sandstones are also important reservoirs for water and oil.
Geological facts
Sandstone makes up about 10 to 20 percent of the sedimentary rocks on Earth. The grains in this specific sample are well-cemented, giving it a rough, sandpaper-like texture characteristic of high quartz content rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its gritty texture (feels like sandpaper) and visible layering (bedding) or rounded river-worn shapes. Common in arid regions, riverbeds, and sedimentary basins worldwide.
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