New Mexico State Stone
Red Sandstone STATUS Unofficial DESCRIPTION Sandstone is one of the clastic sedimentary rocks, formed from the eroded remnants of older rocks. As the name suggests, it is made up of sand, so it falls between siltstone and conglomerates in grain size. The name may suggest a crumbly or impermanent stone, but the best sandstone compares well with granite for hardness and density. Color ranges from white through buff and yellow to red and brown. Red sandstone is pigmented by iron oxide (rust). A STATE SYMBOL While New Mexico has not designated an official state stone, the red sandstone of the state’s vivid scenery is inseparable from New Mexico in the imagination of anyone who has visited there. The painter Georgia O’Keeffe and the photographer Ansel Adams have been among the more prominent artists drawn by New Mexico’s landscapes of brilliant light, red earth, and stark forms. It is hard to imagine the "Land of Enchantment" without its red sandstone. FORMATION Sandstone is a sedimentary rock that forms by accretion (accumulation) of grains of sand. The grains, themselves remnants of much older rocks, typically accrete in layers underwater or in deserts, as well as in glacial outwash. As layers are buried under layers, pressure accumulates, compacting the grains of sand closely. However, the temperatures and pressures to which sandstone is subjected are much lower than those for igneous and metamorphic rocks; the grains of sand do not melt or deform. When dissolved silica or calcium carbonate fills the spaces between the grains, it cements them together, forming the stone. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Sedimentary rocks cover about 80 percent of the earth’s land and most of the ocean floor, yet they form a thin skin, accounting for only eight percent of the volume of the earth’s crust. Sandstone specifically makes up about a quarter of this material. Because it lies at the surface, it is readily available all over the world. In 2005, U.S. quarries sold 192,000 metric tons of dimension (building) sandstone in the domestic market, of which roughly one-fourth was rough stone and the rest was dressed stone. Ten tons of U.S. dimension sandstone were sold in Canada. USES Sandstone quarried in New Mexico is sold throughout the U.S. for decorative architectural applications. Sandstone is used in architecture because of its beauty, strength, and versatility. Its resistance to erosion and weathering makes it popular for outdoor applications, including foundations, walls, and paving stones; its heat resistance makes it an excellent choice for fireplaces; its resistance to salt air makes it useful for buildings near the sea. The variety of colors and the interesting striations that occur in some sandstones give the material great appeal both for structural applications and for carved decorations. In addition, crushed sandstone is a source of silica for the manufacture of glass. Poorer quality stone may be crushed to make a component of concrete. FAMOUS EXAMPLES Stonehenge, the Neolithic astronomical monument, is built of massive sandstone pillars. The Great Sphinx and the Karnak Temple are among Egypt’s ancient monuments made of sandstone. In China, the Great Buddha at Leshan is carved out of a red sandstone rock face. The entire village of Collonges-la-Rouge, in Limousin, France, is built of red sandstone; a popular tourist attraction, the picturesque village was designated a historical monument in 1942. Natural monuments are also made of sandstone; the most famous example may be the eroded mesas of Monument Valley in Utah and Arizona.	Close-up of Red Sandstone Red Sandstone Formations Canyons of Red Sandstone Church Constructed of Red Sandstone SANDSTONE FACTS Name: Sandstone Chemical Formula: SiO2 Color: Varying shades of reddish-brown
	Author: World Trade Press