sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Tan, brown, yellow, red; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Texture: Granular, sandpaper-like feel; Composition: Predominantly quartz or feldspar grains.
- Hardness
- 6-7 Mohs
- Color
- Tan, brown, yellow, red
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 Mohs; Color: Tan, brown, yellow, red; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Texture: Granular, sandpaper-like feel; Composition: Predominantly quartz or feldspar grains.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments (clastic) usually in desert, river, or ocean environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a construction material (building stone), for paving, grindstones, and as a reservoir rock for oil and gas.
Geological facts
Sandstone makes up about 20-25% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. The famous red rock formations in Sedona, Arizona and the Treasury at Petra are made of sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Identifiable by its gritty texture and visible layering (stratification). Look for it in arid canyons, cliff faces, and riverbeds. Collectors look for unique banding or fossil inclusions.
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Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Fossiliferous Concretion
Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids
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Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
sedimentary
Brown Sandstone (River Rock)
Arenite
sedimentary
Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
sedimentary
Shale
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary