Sandstone Rock

This past week I learned something very interesting at Lake Powell.  At least it was to me and since you all are homeschoolers I thought you might be bowled over by this fascinating bit of knowledge.  Homeschooling moms are neat that way. 

My boys were familiar with sandstone but somehow I never had learned about it.  It is what it’s name implies – sand.  But when mixed with a mineral the sand holds together and makes it rock.  If that mineral is silica, sandstone can even be used for structural purposes.

Here is a large sandstone boulder. 

 Lake Powell has sandstone cliffs all over, some up to 2,000 feet high.  They sit right in the water and you wonder why they don’t just dissolve into nothing since they are comprised of sand.  But it is the mineral that is mixed in with the sand that is actually holding it together.  At least that’s how I’m understanding it.

 While clearing out a nice smooth spot for our tent, my son threw a small rock out of the way and this was the result.  This was my learning moment.  This little pile of sand.

That is sandstone all behind our camp. 

Frankly, when I tried reading online about sandstone I couldn’t understand much.  So, I can’t share any real scientific information on my fascinating discovery except to say that sandstone is really indeed made up mostly of sand!  Who would have thought?