Sandstone

Sandstone is a form of sedimentary rock comprising silicate minerals and rock fragments that were transported by moving fluids. The major composition of Sandstone involves quartz, feldspar, mica, clay minerals and essentially lithic or rock fragments.

The formation of sandstone takes place under two primary stages. At first, the sedimentation process takes place where the several minerals from different parts of the surface are carried over by river, fluids, lava or so on.

Next, these sedimented minerals compact under high pressure and precipitate to form Sandstone, which is nothing but a composed form of hardened sand.

The environment where the minerals are deposited also plays a major role in determining the characteristics of the resulting sandstone. Essential features of the Sandstone, to quote, grain size, sorting, geometrical shape, composition and so on are based on the surroundings where it originates. 

Some common environments are terrestrial like rivers, lakes, deserts and marine like deltas, beach, turbidites.

The color of the sandstone may vary from region to region depending on the topographical features of the Earth’s crust. But they are generally found in tan, brown, yellow, gray, pink, white and black colors.

Sandstone has huge pores that render to the percolation of large amount of water or other liquid storage within them. This feature attributes to the grained surface and solid shape of the Sandstone.

Sandstone is familiar with the coastal sea areas and especially, the deserts where rock surfaces are fine grained and fractured by the seismic activity of the bottom layer of sedimentary rocks.

Sandstone is mined by quarrying. A very pure form of quartz silicate called Quartzite is also obtained from Sandstone by allowing to heavy pressure and heat along with tectonic compression.

Sandstones are relatively soft which makes it easy to carve. It is primarily used for domestic construction and house wares. It has been widely used around the world in constructing temples, cathedrals, homes, and other buildings. It is also used for artistic purposes to create ornamental fountains and statues.