Red sandstone is a sedimentary rock primarily composed of sand-sized silicate grains cemented together by iron oxide, which gives it its characteristic red or reddish-brown coloration. It is typically formed in terrestrial or desert environments where the oxidation of iron minerals occurs during deposition. Rockhounders often find it as massive outcrops or weathered boulders, valued for its unique banded patterns and historical use in building stone.
Is this red sandstone?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch red sandstone with a known reference. Red Sandstone sits at Mohs 6-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Red Sandstone leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Red Sandstone typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, red-brown, rust, maroon.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Red Sandstone vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside red sandstone
Minerals reported to co-occur with red sandstone. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 2.0-2.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Decorative, Construction, Architectural
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Basins
- Typical price
- $1-20 per piece
Where rockhounds find red sandstone
Classic worldwide localities
- Scotland
- United States
- England
- Germany
- India
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary basins country — that is the host setting where red sandstone typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, feldspar, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find red sandstone on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
