sedimentary

Sandstone

Sedimentary Rock (Quartz arenite or arkose)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (depending on cement and grain composition); Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and pink; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal structure: Clastic texture composed of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments; Cleavage: None, but breaks around grains.

Luster: Dull to earthy

Identified August 6, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, usually composed mostly of quartz and feldspar, deposited in environments such as beaches, deserts, floodplains, and rivers over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Widely used in construction as building stone, paving material, and in the manufacture of glass and concrete.

Geological facts

Sandstone formations often display distinct layers called cross-bedding, which reveal the ancient direction of wind or water currents when the sand was originally deposited.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible mineral grains. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins, cliffs, and desert regions.

Other sedimentary specimens

See all

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

Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble

Siltstone / Argillite

sedimentary

Sedimentary Sandstone

Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)

sedimentary