What is Sandstone Made Of?

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock that consists of grains of minerals, organic materials, and rock. Besides those, it also has a cementing material that binds the grains of sand together. The space between the sand grains is occupied by clay-sized particles.

Sandstone Masonry is probably one of the most common kinds of sedimentary rock. It is found in sedimentary basins around the world and is mined as a raw material used for manufacturing or construction purposes.

Sandstone Composition

Sandstone is mainly composed of either quartz or feldspar, primarily because these minerals are resistant to the weathering process.  Like uncemented sand, sandstone comes in various colours, including shades of yellow, grey, and white, as well as brown, dark to light reds, pink, tan, or even black. The sandstone beds often form obvious cliffs as well as other topographic features. The colour of the stone generally indicates which region it came from.

Also, sandstone rock formations are valuable aquifer and petroleum reservoirs, this is because they allow percolation of water as well as other fluids. They are porous, allowing them to store larger quantities. Sandstone aquifers are much better at filtering out pollutants from the surface than other rocks with cracks like limestone.

How Sandstone Gets Formed

Two stages are involved in the formation of sandstone. As a result of sedimentation either from water (lake, stream, or sea) or from the air, layers of sand slowly start accumulating. This is how it’s formed:

  • Sedimentation generally occurs when the sand stops rolling or bouncing along the base of a body of water or ground surface.
  • Once the sand has accumulated, it converts into sandstone as a result of the pressure of the overlying deposits.
  • The precipitation of minerals slowly cements it with pore spaces between the sand grains.
  • Silica and calcium carbonate are two of the most common cementing materials.
  • They are often derived from dissolution or even alteration of the sand once it is buried.
  • Sandstones are available in a variety of colours. Yellow is a result of clear quartz and the dark amber feldspar content of the sand. A reddish tint that ranges from pink to red (terracotta) is a result of iron oxide.
  • More manganese content gives the rock a purplish hue.

For more information on what sandstone is made of or any other queries, feel free to contact Trstone Mason at 0414 447 554 to discuss details about your project. You can also get in touch with us via this Contact Us form and get a free quote today.