sedimentary

Weathered sandstone or siltstone fragment

Clastic sedimentary rock, likely quartz-rich sandstone (compositionally uncertain from the image)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Tan to brown, dull earthy luster, very fine to fine grain, irregular fracture, and no obvious crystals or cleavage. Likely Mohs hardness about 5–7 depending on quartz content; individual grains may feel gritty and resist scratching by a steel blade.

Identified August 25, 2026More sedimentary →

Explore Weathered sandstone or siltstone fragment in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when sand- or silt-sized sediment accumulated, compacted, and cemented, commonly by silica, calcite, or iron oxides. Its precise geological age and depositional environment cannot be determined from the photograph alone.

Uses & applications

Used as building stone, paving, aggregate, and sometimes decorative stone; this small weathered piece has little commercial value unless it has unusual fossils or provenance.

Geological facts

The brown coloration commonly reflects iron-oxide staining, while pale surfaces may represent fresher exposed grains or weathered cement.

Field identification & locations

Look for visible rounded or angular grains, gritty texture, bedding, and fizzing with dilute hydrochloric acid if calcite-cemented; a hand lens would distinguish sandstone from siltstone. Common worldwide in sedimentary basins.