sedimentary
Sandstone
Sedimentary Clastic Rock (Quartz arenite)
Hardness: 6 to 7 (due to quartz grains); Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and pink; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal structure: Clastic (composed of cemented mineral particles); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.2 to 2.8
- Hardness
- 6 to 7 (due to quartz grains)
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 to 7 (due to quartz grains); Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and pink; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal structure: Clastic (composed of cemented mineral particles); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.2 to 2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, chiefly quartz and feldspar, typically deposited by water, wind, or ice in environments like deserts, rivers, and beaches.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction as a building material, dimension stone, for paving, and in the manufacture of glass and concrete.
Geological facts
Sandstone often preserves ripple marks and ancient cross-bedding from the environments in which it was deposited millions of years ago.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its gritty texture like sandpaper and visible sand-sized grains. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins.
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