sedimentary

Sandstone

Sedimentary Rock (Quartz arenite/Arkosic sandstone)

Mohs hardness: 6-7 (primarily due to quartz grains); Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and white; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal structure: Clastic texture composed of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments; Specific gravity: 2.2-2.8

Hardness: 6-7 (primarily due to quartz grains)
Luster: Dull to earthy

Identified August 5, 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 and feldspar, typically deposited by water, wind, or ice in environments such as deserts, rivers, beaches, and shallow seas over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Extensively used as a construction material for buildings, paving, and decorative stonework, as well as in the manufacture of glass and abrasives.

Geological facts

Sandstone formations can store vast amounts of groundwater, serving as major aquifers, and many famous historical monuments and ancient structures around the world are carved directly from massive sandstone cliffs.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified in the field by its distinct gritty texture (feeling like fine sandpaper) and visible sand grains; commonly found in sedimentary basins, river valleys, and desert regions worldwide.

Other sedimentary specimens

See all

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

Sedimentary Sandstone

Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)

sedimentary

Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble

Siltstone / Argillite

sedimentary