sedimentary

Sandstone

Quartz Arenite / Sedimentary Rock

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (due to quartz grains); Color: Reddish-brown, tan, gray, or white; Luster: Dull to vitreous on individual quartz crystals; Structure: Clastic, granular texture composed mainly of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments; Cleavage: None (fractures around grains)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (due to quartz grains)
Color: Reddish-brown, tan, gray, or white
Luster: Dull to vitreous on individual quartz crystals

Identified August 1, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments (predominantly quartz) in environments such as deserts, rivers, and beaches, often over millions of years during the Paleozoic or Mesozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in construction as building stone, paving material, flagstone, and historically for grinding stones and sharpening whetstones.

Geological facts

Famous structures built from sandstone include Petra in Jordan and Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia. Its porous nature often makes it an excellent aquifer for groundwater storage.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible sand grains. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins, river valleys, and desert regions. Collectors look for unique banding or fossil inclusions.