Where is Quartz Sandstone found?
SiO2 (Quartz) with clastic sedimentary rock (Sandstone)
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Open the appQuartz Sandstone 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 Quartz Sandstone
Colorado Plateau, USA
Extensive formations like the Navajo Sandstone and Entrada Sandstone, known for their iconic red rock landscapes.
Appalachian Basin, USA
Numerous quartz sandstone units, including the Oriskany Sandstone, important for natural gas reservoirs.
Sahara Desert, North Africa
Vast ancient and modern dune fields contribute to extensive quartz sandstone deposits.
Australia
Significant quartz sandstone formations, such as those found in the Sydney Basin and parts of Western Australia.
Brazil
Extensive quartz sandstone deposits, particularly in the Paraná Basin.
Collecting tips
- Look for Sedimentary Structures. Cross-bedding, ripple marks, and scour marks are common in sandstone and indicate depositional environments.
- Examine Grain Characteristics. Use a hand lens to observe grain size, sorting, and rounding. Well-sorted, well-rounded quartz grains are indicative of mature quartz sandstone.
- Test Hardness. Quartz grains are hard (Mohs 7). The rock as a whole will be hard, though the cement may be softer. It will scratch glass.
- Check for Acid Reaction. If the cement is calcite, it will effervesce with dilute hydrochloric acid. Quartz itself will not react.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Variable (white, gray, tan, red, brown)
- Luster:
- Dull to granular, individual grains vitreous
- Streak:
- White (due to quartz)
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