Sandstone

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sandstone

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Sandstone?Sand-sized particles, defined as 0.0625 to 2 mm in diameter
2. What is the rock classification?Clastic sedimentary rock, comprising approximately 20-25% of all sedimentary rocks
3. What is the primary mineralogy?Predominantly composed of quartz and feldspar due to their weathering resistance
4. Why does sandstone have different colors?Its colors come from tiny bits of iron or other minerals that were trapped inside the sand when it turned into rock. Red, yellow, or black colors show the kinds of minerals that were there.
5. How does sandstone form?First, wind or water carries sand and piles it up. Then pressure from more layers on top squeezes it, and minerals in water glue the grains together.

Diagenesis: The physical and chemical changes occurring in sediment after deposition and before metamorphism.
Provenance: The origin and history of a rock or mineral, including its source area.
Orogenic Belts: Regions of Earth's crust that have been significantly deformed by tectonic compression, often forming mountain ranges.
Redox Conditions: The oxidation-reduction state of a chemical environment, influencing mineral stability and color.