Where is Sandstone found?
Sandstone
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Open the appSandstone occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Sandstone
Colorado Plateau, USA
Famous for its vast exposures of red and orange sandstones, such as the Navajo Sandstone and Entrada Sandstone, forming iconic landscapes like Zion National Park, Arches National Park, and Canyonlands National Park.
Petra, Jordan
The ancient city of Petra is carved directly into vibrant red and pink Nubian Sandstone formations.
The Sahara Desert, North Africa
Extensive eolian (wind-blown) sandstone deposits are found throughout the Sahara, representing ancient desert environments.
Sydney Basin, Australia
The Hawkesbury Sandstone is a prominent geological unit forming the bedrock of much of Sydney, used extensively in local architecture.
United Kingdom
Various sandstone formations are found across the UK, including the Old Red Sandstone (Devonian) and New Red Sandstone (Permian-Triassic), used in many historic buildings.
Collecting tips
- Look for Sedimentary Structures. Sandstone often displays characteristic sedimentary structures like bedding planes, cross-bedding (inclined layers), ripple marks, and mud cracks, which indicate its depositional environment.
- Feel the Texture. Rub a sample of the rock; if it feels gritty and the individual grains are visible and sand-sized, it is likely sandstone. Siltstone feels smoother, and shale feels even finer.
- Check for Grain Composition. Examine the grains with a hand lens. Quartz grains are typically clear to milky and hard (scratches glass). Feldspar grains may be pink or white and have a pearly luster. The presence of abundant rock fragments or dark minerals can indicate a greywacke.
- Assess Cement Type. If the rock fizzes with dilute hydrochloric acid, it indicates a calcite cement. If it's very hard and resistant to weathering, it likely has a silica cement. Iron oxide cements give the rock reddish or yellowish hues.
- Observe Weathering Patterns. Sandstone often weathers into rounded forms, cliffs, and arches, especially in arid environments, due to differential erosion of softer layers or cement.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (white, gray, yellow, brown, red, green)
- Luster:
- Dull to earthy (individual grains may be vitreous)
- Streak:
- White (for quartz-rich sandstone); may vary with iron oxide content (e.g., reddish-brown)
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