sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (SiO2 predominantly)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Tan, brown, or reddish-brown, Luster: Dull/Earthy, Crystal structure: Granular/Clastic, Cleavage: None, Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Sandstone in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale), Color: Tan, brown, or reddish-brown, Luster: Dull/Earthy, Crystal structure: Granular/Clastic, Cleavage: None, Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed by the accumulation and lithification of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments, typically in river beds, oceans, or deserts, over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Extensively used as a building material, in paving, for decorative garden stones, and as a source of silica for glass manufacturing.
Geological facts
Sandstone can be found in almost every geological age from Precambrian to Quaternary. It often preserves fossils and ripple marks from ancient water currents.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its gritty, sandpaper-like feel and visible grain structure. Commonly found in canyons, beaches, and desert plateaus. Collectors should look for layering or fossil inclusions.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
sedimentary
Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
sedimentary
Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
sedimentary
Shale or Slaty Mudstone
Argillaceous sedimentary rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite (primarily SiO2)
sedimentary