sedimentary
Sandstone with Manganese Staining
Quartz Arenite / Sedimentary Rock
Hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale (due to quartz grains); colors range from tan and beige to dark brown and black due to dendrites or staining; dull luster; granular texture.
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Sandstone with Manganese Staining in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale (due to quartz grains); colors range from tan and beige to dark brown and black due to dendrites or staining; dull luster; granular texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, typically in desert, river, or beach environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as dimension stone, paving, landscaping, and as a decorative specimen for rock collectors.
Geological facts
Dark patches and patterns on sandstone are frequently caused by percolating groundwater rich in iron or manganese oxides, sometimes forming delicate fern-like patterns known as manganese dendrites.
Field identification & locations
Commonly found in sedimentary rock formations worldwide. Field identification relies on observing the grainy texture typical of sand-sized grains cemented together.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Fossiliferous Concretion
Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids
fossil
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
sedimentary
Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment
Lithic fragment / Weathered rock
sedimentary
Sedimentary Sandstone
Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)
sedimentary
Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble
Siltstone / Argillite
sedimentary