sedimentary

Sandstone

Sandstone (SiO2 dominated clastic sedimentary rock)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-brown to beige; Luster: Earthy, dull, or sparkling due to quartz grains; Texture: Medium-grained, granular, feels rough like sandpaper; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Grayish-brown to beige
Luster: Earthy, dull, or sparkling due to quartz grains

Identified July 22, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the compaction and cementation of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments, typically in desert dunes, riverbeds, beaches, or shallow marine environments over thousands to millions of years.

Uses & applications

Widely used as a construction material, flagstone, paving, decorative stone, and in glass manufacturing or oil/gas reservoir rock studies.

Geological facts

Sandstone accounts for roughly 20-25% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. The color varies depending on the minerals acting as cement, such as iron oxides creating red sandstones or quartz/calcite giving lighter gray tones.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its distinctive grainy texture that feels like sandpaper and visible sand-sized quartz or feldspar grains. Found abundantly in sedimentary basins, canyons, and exposed cliff faces worldwide.

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Sandstone or Siltstone

Arenite (if sandstone)

Sedimentary

Sedimentary Sandstone

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Fossiliferous Concretion

Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids

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Shale

Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)

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Brown Sandstone (River Rock)

Arenite

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Shale

Argillaceous sedimentary rock

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