sedimentary

Yellow-brown sandstone

Quartz-rich clastic sandstone, likely ferruginous sandstone

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically Mohs hardness 6–7 for quartz grains, with a rough, granular texture and dull to slightly earthy luster. The yellow-brown color commonly comes from iron-oxide coatings; grains and bedding may be visible.

Identified September 20, 2026More sedimentary →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when sand-sized particles accumulated, compacted, and cemented in a river, shoreline, dune, or shallow-marine environment. Its exact age cannot be determined from the image; sandstone ranges from Precambrian to modern geological formations.

Uses & applications

Used as building stone, paving, masonry, aggregate, and occasionally as a decorative or carving stone. Common pieces have little collector value unless they show unusual fossils, sedimentary structures, or mineralization.

Geological facts

Iron oxides such as limonite or goethite commonly produce yellow, ochre, and reddish sandstone colors. Quartz-rich sandstone may weather into resistant ledges and cliffs.

Field identification & locations

Look for visible sand grains, gritty texture, sedimentary layering, and weakly cemented fracture surfaces; a streak or hardness test can help distinguish it from altered volcanic rock. Common worldwide, especially in former deserts, river basins, and coastal basins.