Comparison of Sandstone and Limestone

Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains. Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.

Sandstone

The usual cementing material in sandstone is calcium carbonate, iron oxides, or silica, and the hardness of sandstone varies according to the character of the cementing material; quartz sandstones cemented with quartz are the hardest.In sandstones, sand is between 1/16 millimeter and 2 mm in size (silt is finer and gravel is coarser). Sandstone may include finer and coarser material.

Sandstones are classified on the basis of the composition of their grains. Three components are considered: 

Quartz grains

Feldspar grains

Rock fragment grains 

Based on the percentage composition of these components, the color and the physical properties of the various varieties of sand stone varies.

Physical Properties of Sandstone

The physical properties of sandstone includes following: 

Mineralogy:

A wide variety of rock fragments with up to 75% quartz grains .

Texture:

Medium-grained; may range widely in degrees of grain sorting and shape.

Structure:

Bedding is often apparent along with sedimentary structures and fossils 

Occurrence:

Associated with most other sedimentary rock types .

Color:

The color varies from red, green, yellow, gray and white. The variation is result of the binding material and its percentage constituent. 

Water Absorption:

The capacity of water absorption is not more than 1.0%

Porosity :

The porosity varies from low to very low. 

Density:

2.32 to 2.42 Kg/m3 

Hardness:

Lies between 6 to 7 on Moh's Scale 

Compressive Strength:

Varies from 365 to 460 Kg/m2

Chemical Properties of Sandstone

Constitutent                              Percentages

Silica (SiO2)                              93-94%

Alumina (Al2O3)                       1.4-1.5%

Iron (Fe2O3)                             1.5-1.6%

Lime (CaO)                               0.8-0.9%

Soda (N2O) & Potash (KrO)   1.0-1.2%

Magnesia (MgO)                     0.2-0.25%

Loss of Ignition (LOI)              1.0-1.2%

They are highly resistant to acids, alkalis and thermal impact and their insolubility in acids and alkalis is about 97%

Uses of Sandstone

Sandstones are used for variety of purposes. They are mainly used in paving, roofing, flooring etc. They are also used in making beams, pillars, doors and window sills, wall facing, fence posts etc.

Sandstones are resistant to saline air, which make it perfect for exterior cladding in sea-shore buildings.

They are also acid and alkali resistant. So, they are used in chemical industry for flooring, wall-covering.

They are thermal resistant so used for making fireplaces.

Limestone

Limestone is ca alcareous sedimentary rocksformed at the bottom of lakes and seas with the accumulation of shells, bones and other calcium rich goods. It is composed of calcite (CaCO3). The organic matter upon which it settles in lakes or seas, are preserved as fossils. Over thousands and millions of years, layer after layer is built up adding weight. The heat and pressure causes chemical reaction at the bottom and the sediments turn into solid stone, the limestone.

Limestone

The rock which contain more than 95% of calcium carbonate is known as high-calcium limestone.Recrystallised limestone takes good polish and is usually used as decorative and building stone.

A part of calcium molecules if being replaced by magnesium, it is known as magnesium lime stone or dolomite limestone.

Limestone that will take a polish are considered marbles by most people, but technically, if there are still shells visible or the structure is not crystalline, it is still a limestone.

Physical Properties of Limestone

Hardness 3 to 4 on Moh's Scale

Density 2.5 to 2.7 Kg/cm3

Compressive Strength 60-170 N/mm2

Water Absorption Less than 1%

Porosity Quite low

Weather Impact Resistant

Chemical Properties of Limestone

 Constituent                                Percentage

Lime (CaO)                              38-42%

Silica (SiO2)                             15-18%

Alumina (Al2O3)                      3-5%

MgO                                         0.5 to 3%

FeO + Fe2O3                           1-1.5%

Alkalies                                    1-1.5%

Loss On Ignition (LOI)            30-32%

Uses of Limestone

• Flooring

• Wall cladding

• Vanity tops

• Furniture

• Cement Production

• Refining Metals

• Blackboard chalk 

Comparison

Sandstone and limestone both are sedimentary rocks but sandstone is formed by the sedimentation of small grains, usually quartz (silica). The individual grains are visible and vary form small to large size. While limestone is formed by the sedimentaion of finer grains of calcarious materials. As limestone is composed of finer grains so its density is more as compared to that of sandstone, and so pores in the sandstone are more Limestone, like marble and other calcareous stones, are referred to as acid sensitive. Calcareous stones are readily dissolved in acid, while sandstone do not react with the acids. Limesotne is generally soft, and can be corroded by rainwater. Sandstone is hard as compared to limestone and less corroded by rainwater, so we find it near the rivers, lakes and in desert areas.

Sandstone is preferred for the use in metallic road construction because its hardness, compressive strength is more. It is more resistant to the weathering by rainfall and can not be corroded easily by rainwater. So, at different climatic, water and weather conditions sandstone is better construction material.

About the Author

  Arslan Zulfiqar He is a student of B.Sc in Transportation Engineering at "University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan"