sedimentary
Sandstone
Sedimentary Rock (Quartz Sandstone)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (depending on cementation). Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and pink. Luster: Dull to earthy. Crystal structure: Clastic texture composed of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments, primarily quartz and feldspar.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale (depending on cementation)
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale (depending on cementation). Color: Varies widely including tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, and pink. Luster: Dull to earthy. Crystal structure: Clastic texture composed of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments, primarily quartz and feldspar.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of mineral particles or rock fragments, most commonly quartz, deposited by water, wind, or ice in environments such as deserts, rivers, beaches, and shallow seas. Can range from millions to hundreds of millions of years in geological age.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a construction material for building facades, paving stones, flagstones, and architectural facing, as well as an abrasive and in glassmaking.
Geological facts
Sandstone formations, such as those found in Zion National Park and Petra, often feature striking cross-bedding patterns that reveal the ancient wind or water currents that shaped them.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its gritty, sandpaper-like texture and visible sand grains. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins and arid or coastal regions.
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