sedimentary

Sandstone

Clastic sedimentary rock (primarily quartz arenite)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (depending on cementation); Color: Tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, or white; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Clastic/granular with quartz grains cemented by silica, calcite, or iron oxide; Cleavage: None

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (depending on cementation)
Color: Tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, or white
Luster: Dull to vitreous

Identified August 3, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, chiefly quartz, in environments such as deserts, rivers, and beaches, often dating from millions of years ago.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in construction as building stone, paving material, and in the production of glass and concrete.

Geological facts

Sandstone forms some of the most dramatic geological formations and monuments in the world, including canyons and arches in the American Southwest, due to its resistance to weathering relative to surrounding soft shales.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its gritty texture, visible sand grains, and layered sedimentary structure. Common globally in sedimentary basins and arid regions.

Other sedimentary specimens

See all

Sandstone or Siltstone

Arenite (if sandstone)

Sedimentary

Quartz pebble

Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

sedimentary

Fossiliferous Concretion

Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids

fossil

Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment

Lithic fragment / Weathered rock

sedimentary

Sedimentary Sandstone

Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)

sedimentary

Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble

Siltstone / Argillite

sedimentary