Rock Identifier
Sandstone (Clastic Sedimentary Rock) — sedimentary
sedimentary

Sandstone

Clastic Sedimentary Rock

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness varies from 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale depending on cementation; typically tan, brown, yellow, or grey; dull luster; composed of cemented sand-sized quartz or feldspar grains.

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Physical properties

Hardness varies from 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale depending on cementation; typically tan, brown, yellow, or grey; dull luster; composed of cemented sand-sized quartz or feldspar grains.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, predominantly quartz, in marine, desert, or river environments over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Widely used as a construction material for building facades, paving stones, and masonry, as well as an abrasive and in glassmaking.

Geological facts

Sandstone formations can store vast quantities of groundwater and petroleum, making them crucial reservoir rocks in geology.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible mineral grains; found globally in ancient depositional basins.