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

Colour: 
Buff 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. 

 

Worldwide.

 

Construction industry.