Sandstones are siliciclastic sedimentary rocks that consist mainly of sand-size grains (clast diameters… The principal mineral constituents of the framework are quartz, feldspar, and rock fragments.
Sandstone Is What Type of Rock?
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand–sized grains of mineral, rock, or organic material. It also contains a cementing material that binds the sand grains together and may contain a matrix of silt– or clay–size particles that occupy the spaces between the sand grains.
Sandstone is one of the most common types of sedimentary rocks and is found in a wide variety of geological settings.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth‘s crust. Like sand, these minerals are small and have a rectangular or angular shape.
These minerals also have a Mohs hardness of 6–7, which means they can be scratched by a knife but not by your fingernail. The type of sandstone depends on the composition of thesand grains.
For example, arkose sandstone is rich in feldspar, whilegraywacke sandstone is rich in dark minerals such as hornblende orpyroxene.
The most common cementing material in sandstone iscalcite, but other minerals, such as quartz, can also be present. Sandstone can be any color, but the most common colors are tan,
Leave a comment