sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (SiO2 composition dominant)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Tan, brown, or reddish; Luster: Dull or earthy; Structure: Clastic; Texture: Gritty like sandpaper; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Color
- Tan, brown, or reddish
- Luster
- Dull or earthy
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Sandstone in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Tan, brown, or reddish; Luster: Dull or earthy; Structure: Clastic; Texture: Gritty like sandpaper; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and cementation of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments in environments like deserts, riverbeds, or beaches over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a building material, paving stone, in the manufacture of glass, and for artistic sculptures.
Geological facts
Sandstone makes up about 20% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. Famous landmarks like the Treasury at Petra and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre are carved from or made of sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its gritty texture and visible sand grains. Commonly found in arid regions, coastal bluffs, and river basins worldwide.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary