sedimentary
Sandstone
Sedimentary Clastic Rock (Quartz Arenite)
Hardness: 6 to 7 (due to quartz content); Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and pink; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal structure: Amorphous aggregate of mineral grains; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.2 to 2.8.
- Hardness
- 6 to 7 (due to quartz content)
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6 to 7 (due to quartz content); Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and pink; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal structure: Amorphous aggregate of mineral grains; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.2 to 2.8.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation (lithification) of mineral particles or rock fragments, chiefly quartz and feldspar, typically in environments like beaches, deserts, floodplains, and rivers over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as a building and paving material, historically used for flagstones, decorative facing, and grindstones.
Geological facts
Sandstone formations can hold large quantities of water, oil, and natural gas, making them crucial reservoirs for hydrogeological and petroleum resources.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its gritty texture, visible sand-sized grains, and sometimes layered bedding planes. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins.
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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