sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Tan, brown, yellow, and reddish; Luster: Dull to earthy; Grains: Sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm); Texture: Clastic, gritty feeling like sandpaper.
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Color
- Tan, brown, yellow, and reddish
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Tan, brown, yellow, and reddish; Luster: Dull to earthy; Grains: Sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm); Texture: Clastic, gritty feeling like sandpaper.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and compaction of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments in environments such as deserts, riverbeds, or coastal areas over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in the construction of buildings, monuments, and roads. Also used as a reservoir rock for oil, gas, and groundwater due to its porosity.
Geological facts
Sandstone makes up about 20% of all sedimentary rocks on Earth. The famous red rock formations in Sedona, Arizona, and Petra, Jordan, are primarily made of sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its distinctive grainy, sandpaper-like texture and visible bedding planes. Common globally in sedimentary basins.
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Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
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Mudstone
Argillite / Siliciclastic sedimentary rock
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Cone-in-cone structure (Limestone)
Cone-in-cone structure (Secondary Sedimentary Structure)
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Brown Sandstone (River Rock)
Arenite
sedimentary
Sandstone Grain
Clastic Sedimentary Rock Grain (SiO2 dominated)
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Chert Breccia
Brecciated Chert (Microcrystalline Silica)
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