Sandstone
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| + | '''Sandstone''' (sometimes known as [[arenite]]) is a [[sedimentary rock]] composed mainly of [[sand]]-sized [[mineral]]s or rock [[Particle size (grain size)|grains]]. Most sandstone is composed of [[quartz]] and/or [[feldspar]] because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's [[crust (geology)|crust]]. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other [[topography|topographic]] features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions. | ||
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| + | Some sandstones are resistant to [[weathering]], yet are easy to work. This makes sandstone a common [[building material|building]] and [[pavement (material)|paving]] material. However, some that have been used in the past, such as the [[Collyhurst sandstone]] used in [[North West England]], have been found less resistant, necessitating repair and replacement in older buildings. Because of the hardness of the individual grains, uniformity of grain size and [[friability]] of their structure, some types of sandstone are excellent materials from which to make [[grindstone (tool)|grindstone]]s, for sharpening blades and other implements. Non-friable sandstone can be used to make grindstones for grinding grain, e.g., [[gritstone]]. | ||
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| + | Rock formations that are primarily composed of sandstone usually allow [[percolation]] of water and other fluids and are [[porosity|porous]] enough to store large quantities, making them valuable [[aquifer]]s and [[petroleum reservoir]]s. Fine-grained aquifers, such as sandstones, are more apt to filter out pollutants from the surface than are rocks with cracks and crevices, such as [[limestone]] or other rocks fractured by [[earthquake|seismic activity]]. | ||
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| + | == See also == | ||
| + | {{commonscat}} | ||
| + | {| width=580px | ||
| + | | | ||
| + | * [[Bargate stone]] | ||
| + | * [[Beaver river sandstone]] | ||
| + | * [[Brownstone]] | ||
| + | * [[Dimension stone]] | ||
| + | * [[Geology]] | ||
| + | |<!--next column--> | ||
| + | * [[Hummelstown brownstone]] | ||
| + | * [[List of minerals]] | ||
| + | * [[List of stone]] | ||
| + | * [[Old Red Sandstone]] | ||
| + | * [[New Red Sandstone]] | ||
| + | |<!--next column--> | ||
| + | * [[Sarsen]] | ||
| + | * [[Sedimentary basin]]s | ||
| + | * [[Yorkstone]] | ||
| + | * [[Dells of the Wisconsin River|Wisconsin Dells]] | ||
| + | * [[Uluru]] | ||
| + | |} | ||
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| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 21:02, 12 May 2010
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Sandstone (sometimes known as arenite) is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains. Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.
Some sandstones are resistant to weathering, yet are easy to work. This makes sandstone a common building and paving material. However, some that have been used in the past, such as the Collyhurst sandstone used in North West England, have been found less resistant, necessitating repair and replacement in older buildings. Because of the hardness of the individual grains, uniformity of grain size and friability of their structure, some types of sandstone are excellent materials from which to make grindstones, for sharpening blades and other implements. Non-friable sandstone can be used to make grindstones for grinding grain, e.g., gritstone.
Rock formations that are primarily composed of sandstone usually allow percolation of water and other fluids and are porous enough to store large quantities, making them valuable aquifers and petroleum reservoirs. Fine-grained aquifers, such as sandstones, are more apt to filter out pollutants from the surface than are rocks with cracks and crevices, such as limestone or other rocks fractured by seismic activity.
See also
