sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, brown, or buff; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Granular/clastic texture; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan, brown, or buff
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, brown, or buff; Luster: Dull to earthy; Structure: Granular/clastic texture; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments (0.0625 to 2 mm size), typically in river beds, beaches, or deserts over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a construction material for paving, walls, and decorative finishes; also used in glass manufacturing and as a reservoir rock for oil and gas.
Geological facts
Sandstone makes up about 10-25% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. The famous red rock formations of the American Southwest are composed primarily of varied sandstone layers.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its gritty, sandpaper-like feel and visible grains. Often found in layered outcroppings or near ancient waterways. Collectors look for unique banding or fossil inclusions.
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Arenite (if sandstone)
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Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
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Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
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Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
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Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
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Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary