sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (SiO2 based)
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Tan, grey, or yellowish; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Clastic grain texture; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture possible)
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Tan, grey, or yellowish
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Tan, grey, or yellowish; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Crystal Structure: Clastic grain texture; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture possible)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation and cementation of sand-sized mineral grains (primarily quartz and feldspar) in basins, deltas, or desert environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a building material, paving stone, in the manufacture of glass, and for landscaping.
Geological facts
Sandstone represents about 20-25% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. Famous formations include the Grand Canyon and the red rocks of Sedona.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its gritty, sandpaper-like feel and visible grains. It is commonly found in sedimentary basins and along antiguas river beds. Acid test will not react unless it has a calcitic cement.
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Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
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Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
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Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
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Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary