sedimentary
Sandstone
Clastic sedimentary rock (Quartz arenite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale (due to quartz grains); colors range from brown, tan, yellow, red, to grey; dull to earthy luster; clastic texture with visible or microscopic sand-sized grains; no distinct cleavage.
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 of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale (due to quartz grains); colors range from brown, tan, yellow, red, to grey; dull to earthy luster; clastic texture with visible or microscopic sand-sized grains; no distinct cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, mainly quartz and feldspar, typically deposited by water, wind, or ice in environments such as deserts, rivers, beaches, and shallow marine settings.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction and architecture as dimension stone, building material, paving stones, and for manufacturing glass and abrasives.
Geological facts
Famous monuments around the world, including Petra in Jordan and parts of the Grand Canyon, are carved out of or composed of massive sandstone formations.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible sand grains. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins and arid regions.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
sedimentary
Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
sedimentary
Shale (or Mudstone/Siltstone)
Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
sedimentary