What is Sandstone?

WHAT IS SANDSTONE?

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand-size 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 rock and is found in sedimentary basins throughout the world.

WHAT IS SAND?

To a geologist, the word “sand” in sandstone refers to the particle size of the grains in the rock rather than the material of which it is composed. Sand-size particles range in size from 1/16 millimeter to 2 millimeters in diameter. Sandstones are rocks composed primarily of sand-size grains.

WHAT TYPES OF SANDSTONE ARE THERE?

There are three major types of sandstone:

• Quartz sandstone

• Arkose

• Litharenite or lithic sandstone

WHAT ARE THE USES OF SANDSTONE?

Sandstone is used for a multitude of differing purposes, such as construction material, paving, Glass making and even the production of sand. Buildings such as the Pyramids of Giza. Sandstone made up the base of the Pyramids, with Polished Limestone Cladding the external of the Great Pyramids.