Sandstone is a sedimentary rock. It’s made up of small granules of quartz and feldspar, which are the 2 most common minerals in the earth’s crust.

Sandstone forms in 2 stages. The first stage is the accumulation of sand, from water or air. During the second stage, sand particles become pressurized and harden with the help of the wind and rain - making the sand cement-like.

In desert regions, like Jordan, you might see a sand dune at the base of a sandstone rock formation. This is because the natural elements have eroded the surface of the sandstone and converted it back into soft sand.

Sandstone can be found in many colors, but the most common are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray, and white.

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Text: Ilana Fayerman; Image: Jenny M Buccos