Nevada State Rock

Sandstone

Adopted in 1987.

The state rock is sandstone. It was adopted in 1987.  Sandstone, in its more traditionally recognized form or as quartzite, is found throughout the state. In areas such as the Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock Canyon Recreational Lands, both near Las Vegas, it provides some of Nevada's most spectacular scenery. The State Capitol, and the former United States Mint, are built of sandstone. Students at Gene Ward Elementary School in Las Vegas came up with the idea of making sandstone our state rock.

Description:

Distinctive features:
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock. Sand in which the grains are cemented together by secondary silica calcite. Maybe loosely cemented and soft or well cemented and hard.

Color:
Medium grey in color to brownish; sometimes reddish, due to presence of iron oxides, or greenish, due to presence of glauconite.

Texture and granularity:
Sandy, with grains up to 2 mm ( 1/16 in) in diameter.

Composition:
Sand grains (quartz), cemented by secondary silica or calcite.

Field associations:
Compound and / or cemented ancient beach, river, delta, lake and desert deposits. Occurs as thick, stratified beds in sedimentary sequences, often showing current or dune bedding.

Varieties:
Quartz sandstone, which has cemented rounded or angular quartz grains; greywacke; arkose; and calcareous sandstone, which has a high proportion of calcite, usually as cement.

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