sedimentary
Sandstone
Clastic Sedimentary Rock
Hardness varies from 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale depending on cementation; colors include brown, tan, yellow, red, and grey; dull or earthy luster; composed mainly of quartz and feldspar grains; gritty texture.
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Physical properties
Hardness varies from 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale depending on cementation; colors include brown, tan, yellow, red, and grey; dull or earthy luster; composed mainly of quartz and feldspar grains; gritty texture.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, chiefly quartz, in environments such as deserts, rivers, and beaches over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction, as building and paving stone, and historically for grinding stones and whetstones.
Geological facts
Many of the world's most famous monuments and ancient structures, such as Petra in Jordan and the temples of ancient Egypt, are carved directly out of sandstone formations.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its visible sand-sized grains and gritty feel. Commonly found in sedimentary basins worldwide.
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Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Fossiliferous Concretion
Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids
fossil
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
sedimentary
Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment
Lithic fragment / Weathered rock
sedimentary
Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble
Siltstone / Argillite
sedimentary
Sedimentary Sandstone
Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)
sedimentary