sedimentary
Sandstone
Clastic Sedimentary Rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, typically tan, brown, yellow, or red with a dull luster and a granular texture composed of cemented mineral grains.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, typically tan, brown, yellow, or red with a dull luster and a granular texture composed of cemented mineral grains.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, predominantly quartz and feldspar, in environments like deserts, rivers, and beaches.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction for building facades, paving stones, flooring, and historically for grinding stones and whetstones.
Geological facts
Sandstone formations can be thousands of feet thick and often preserve ancient ripple marks and fossilized footprints.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its sandpaper-like gritty texture and visible sand grains; commonly found in sedimentary basins worldwide.
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Fossil-bearing concretion, possibly containing a fossil shell or other organic inclusion
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Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
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Sandstone
Arenite
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Shale (or Mudstone/Siltstone)
Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
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