sedimentary

Sandstone

Sedimentary Rock (Quartz arenite or arkose)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (for quartz grains); Color: Tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, or white; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal structure: Clastic (composed of mineral particles or rock fragments cemented together); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.2-2.8

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (for quartz grains)
Color: Tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, or white
Luster: Dull to earthy

Identified August 1, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments (mostly quartz and feldspar) of sand size, typically in environments such as beaches, deserts, floodplains, and rivers.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in construction as building stone, paving material, and in the manufacturing of glass, concrete, and abrasives.

Geological facts

Sandstone formations can act as excellent aquifers for storing groundwater and are famous for preserving ancient trace fossils and ripple marks from ancient environments.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible sand grains. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins, cliffs, and desert regions.

Other sedimentary specimens

See all

Sandstone or Siltstone

Arenite (if sandstone)

Sedimentary

Quartz pebble

Silicon dioxide (SiO2)

sedimentary

Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment

Lithic fragment / Weathered rock

sedimentary

Sedimentary Sandstone

Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)

sedimentary

Fossiliferous Concretion

Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids

fossil

Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble

Siltstone / Argillite

sedimentary