sedimentary
Sandstone
Clastic Sedimentary Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness of 6 to 7 for quartz-rich varieties. Color ranges from tan, brown, yellow, to red due to iron oxides. Has a granular texture and dull luster.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 6 to 7 for quartz-rich varieties. Color ranges from tan, brown, yellow, to red due to iron oxides. Has a granular texture and dull luster.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, predominantly quartz, in marine, desert, or river environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as a building material, for paving, and in the manufacture of glass and abrasives.
Geological facts
Sandstone formations create some of the world's most iconic geological landscapes, including monuments in national parks like Zion and the Grand Canyon.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its visible sand-sized grains and gritty texture. Found globally in ancient and modern sedimentary basins.
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Fossil-bearing concretion, possibly containing a fossil shell or other organic inclusion
Calcareous concretion; exact fossil and host-rock composition are not identifiable from the image
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Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary
Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
sedimentary
Shale (or Mudstone/Siltstone)
Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
sedimentary