Weathered quartz-rich sandstone

Typically 6–7 Mohs for quartz grains; tan, gray, and rusty orange from iron oxides, with dull to slightly gritty luster. Clastic granular texture, bedding or fracture planes, and little to no cleavage; exact composition is uncertain from the image.

Formed when quartz-rich sand was deposited, compacted, and cemented, commonly in rivers, beaches, or desert dunes. Its age cannot be determined visually and may range from Paleozoic to much younger depending on locality.

Used as building stone, paving and aggregate, dimension stone, and occasionally decorative material. Ordinary weathered pieces generally have minimal collector value.

The orange coloration commonly reflects hematite or limonite staining along pores and fractures. The block appears naturally fractured and weathered rather than crystalline or metallic.

Look for visible sand grains, gritty texture, sedimentary layering, and weak reaction or no reaction to dilute hydrochloric acid; quartz-rich sandstone scratches glass. Common worldwide, especially in sedimentary basins; value is typically $5–$30 for a hand specimen, rising to $50–$150 for unusually attractive or locality-documented material.