Everything you need to know about Sandstone
At Kocurek Industries we provide a variety of core sample research services for various types of rock formations. One of our most researched samples comes from sandstone. Sandstone is a classic sedimentary rock primarily comprised of rock grains and sand-size minerals. Sandstone is one of the most common types of sedimentary rock and is found in sedimentary basins.Sedimentary rocks are formed by different sediments that are deposited over time, often these layers are seen at the bottom of the ocean. To better understand Sandstone researchers must have a firm grasp on the sand component that creates this rock.
The sand in sandstone refers to the microscopic size of all the grains in the rock rather than the material in it. These particles can be so small that they can be measured at 1/16th of a millimeter. When researchers are using and exploring various sandstones they are referring to these rocks which are composed primarily of small grains.
These grains are typically a mixture of various minerals and rocks which have weathered over time. Weathering refers to the breaking down of rocks, minerals, soils and other materials. Over time these materials come into contact with various conditions of the Earth such as heat, ice, and water which cause the materials to weaken. Through the weathering process these grains are deposited at a site as the result of moving winds and waters. As the grains continue to move to their site of deposition they endure more physical and chemical weathering.
The longer that the grains of sand in sandstone journey from their original source of rock the more weathering occurs. When more weathering occurs the grains of sandstone continue to breakdown into smaller composition.
Every sample of sandstone is composed of different amounts and traces of minerals, rocks and other materials which makes every sample unique. Some of the most common minerals that have been found in sandstone samples include feldspar and quartz. Both feldspar and quartz are the most common minerals found in the Earth’s crust. Quartz tends to have the highest concentration in sandstone samples with nearly 90% of the composition being composed of quartz. Due to the different components that make up sandstone, sandstone can be found in a variety of colors. The most typical color of sandstone is tan, browns, yellows and reds.
In addition to sandstone other forms of sedimentary rock samples include limestone, chalk, claystone and coal. At Kocurek Industries, we stock a variety of different types of sandstones which can be studied. Some of the samples we have in stock include: Idaho Gray, Castlegate, Buff Berea, Kirby and Bandera Brown.
Our sandstone collections are used by a variety of clients including researchers who are employed by major oil and gas industry firms and independent research firms and major universities. If you are interested in exploring and studying various samples of sandstone and other rock formations visit www.kocurekindustries.com for more information on our services and how to contact us.