sedimentary
Sandstone with Quartz Veining
Arenite with hydrothermal quartz (SiO2)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Brown/Grey matrix with white bands; Luster: Dull/Earthy matrix with vitreous bands; Structure: Clastic with crystalline veins; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Brown/Grey matrix with white bands
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy matrix with vitreous bands
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Brown/Grey matrix with white bands; Luster: Dull/Earthy matrix with vitreous bands; Structure: Clastic with crystalline veins; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the lithification of sand-sized grains over millions of years. The white bands are quartz veins formed by hydrothermal fluids filling fractures in the rock after its initial formation. Age ranges from Paleozoic to Cenozoic depending on the specific region.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in construction as building stone or crushed stone. Smaller specimens are collected as garden decorative stones or by amateur geologists for educational purposes.
Geological facts
The 'zebra-like' stripes are often called 'ribboning.' These rocks are excellent indicators of past tectonic activity, as the white veins reveal where the rock once cracked under pressure while deep underground.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its gritty texture and the hard, white crystalline bands that cannot be scratched by a steel knife. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountainous outcrop regions. Collectors look for high contrast between the bands and the matrix.
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