Sandstone And Quartzite

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed essentially of quartz grains cemented by siliceous, felspathic, calcareous cementing matters. The durability and strength of these rocks depend on the cementing material. The best quality sandstone, for building purpose, should be of fine grain and uniform texture. The colour of the sandstone may be either white, grey, yellow, buff, brown or red

Sandstone is the youngest of the quartz-based stones, which eventually turns into quartzite as the sandstone is subjected to heat and pressure. Textures within the sandstone layers such as cross-bedding, ripple marks, and mud cracks, are clues to the origin of the layers as shallow, inter-tidal or delta sediments. The colors of sandstone depend on the mineral contents and impurities in the sand. Generally, the sandstone is available in red, beige, pink, green, grey, brown, yellow, mint, teak, and in rainbow color.

Sandstone was a common building material for larger structures, before reinforced concrete came into use in the middle of late 1800's. Nevertheless, it is still put into various purposes such as for flooring or as paving materials since they are dug out from the ground in individual layers. Some sandstone is honed for a smoother finish and used for both interior and exterior applications. It is also used as flagstone for residential applications.

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock consisting of compact siliceous matter. It is formed from sandstone that after metamorphism alters to quartzite. Quartzite is used mainly as a building stone and as road metal. Fine grained compact quartzite is found in Gurgaon district of Haryana and is considerably used as a building stone. Rajasthan is the largest state that produces quartzite. Different quarries produce slabs and titles measuring 30 to 60 cm in width and 2 to 3 m in length

Since most of these stones are taken from the ground in individual layers, they are typically used as flooring or paving materials. Most flagstone used in residential applications is sandstone. Most sandstones and quartzite have a "natural cleft" finish, meaning the finished surface is the way the stone came out of the ground. Some sandstones are honed for a smoother finish. Most sandstones are suitable for both interior and exterior application.

The colors of sandstone, depending on the cements and impurities in the sand, are red, beige, pink, green, gray, brown, yellow, mint, teak, rainbow.

The quartzite comes in black and white colors only.