sedimentary
Sandstone
Sedimentary Rock (Quartz arenite / Lithic sandstone)
Hardness varies from 6 to 7 depending on cement; Color ranges from tan, brown, yellow, red, to grey; Luster is dull or earthy; Crystal structure is clastic, composed of sand-sized mineral grains or rock fragments cemented together.
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Physical properties
Hardness varies from 6 to 7 depending on cement; Color ranges from tan, brown, yellow, red, to grey; Luster is dull or earthy; Crystal structure is clastic, composed of sand-sized mineral grains or rock fragments cemented together.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, most commonly quartz and feldspar, deposited by water, wind, or ice in environments such as deserts, rivers, and beaches.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in construction as building stone, dimension stone, paving materials, and historically for grinding stones and whetstones.
Geological facts
Sandstone formations often display distinct layering or cross-bedding, providing geologists with vital clues about ancient wind and water directions. Famous monuments and structures worldwide, including Petra in Jordan and parts of the USA's National Parks, are carved from or built of sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible sand grains. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins, cliffs, and desert regions. Collectors look for unique banding, color variations, or fossil inclusions.
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Other sedimentary specimens
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