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sandstone

Definition

Sandstone is a type of rock that is made up of sand. It is found in many places around the world, including beaches, deserts, and riverbeds.

Sandstone is formed when sand is cemented together by minerals, such as quartz, calcite, or iron oxide. The sand is usually made up of small pieces of quartz, but it can also contain other minerals, such as feldspar, mica, and clay.

Sandstone can be different colours depending on the minerals that it is made from. For example, beach sandstone is often white or yellow because it is made from quartz. Desert sandstone can be red or orange because it is made from sand dunes.

Sandstone is used in a variety of applications, including:

  • Construction: Sandstone is used in building materials, such as bricks, concrete, and mortar.
  • Art: Sandstone is used to make sculptures and other objects.
  • Jewellery: Sandstone is sometimes used to make jewellery, such as beads and pendants.
  • Water filtration: Sandstone is used to filter water.
  • Glazing: Sandstone is used in the production of glass.

How can the word be used?

The cliff is made of sandstone.

sandstone

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • a sedimentary rock composed of sand-sized grains of minerals or rock cemented together.

Etymology

The word "sandstone" comes from the Old English words "sand" and "stān", which mean "stone".

The first recorded use of the word "sandstone" in English was in the 14th century.

The word "sandstone" is an Old English word, and it is related to the Old Norse word "sansteinn" and the German word "Sandstein".

Question

What is sandstone?