Sandstone
ASTM C616
Sandstone is a sedimentary dimension stone made of cemented, mostly quartz sand grains, classified under ASTM C616 (Classes I, II and III by silica content and strength).
Reference datasheet — Sandstone is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the C616-I condition
Sandstone tempers and conditions
Sandstone is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. C616-I is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C616-IDefault Class I | General building/landscape sandstone: easiest to carve and cut, but highest porosity and lowest strength — use in mild, non-freeze-thaw-critical exposures. | 3 | 2 W/m·K | |||
Class II | Silica-cemented sandstone with low absorption (≤3 %) — the practical choice for exterior cladding and paving in freeze–thaw climates. | 6 | 3 W/m·K | |||
Class III | Fully recrystallized, near-zero-absorption silica rock — highest strength, abrasion and stain resistance; hardest and slowest to cut. | 12 | 6 W/m·K |
What is Sandstone?
Sandstone is a sedimentary dimension stone made of cemented, mostly quartz sand grains, classified under ASTM C616 (Classes I, II and III by silica content and strength). Engineers specify it for paving, cladding and landscape work because of its natural texture, slip resistance and the ease with which it is sawn, split and carved; it is supplied as slabs, tiles, flagstone and cut block. Density is 2.25 g/cm3, elastic modulus 15 GPa and thermal conductivity 2 W/m·K, with service to 250 °C, but tensile strength is only 3 MPa and the open porosity makes it prone to staining, efflorescence and freeze-thaw damage. Granite is the harder, denser alternative where wear and a polished surface are required. Sandstone has a density of 2.25 g/cm³ (0.0813 lb/in³), heavier than 81% of natural material grades. It melts at 1,650°C (3,002 °F). Sandstone has a tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.435 ksi), weaker than 87% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.25% and the elastic modulus is 15 GPa (2.18 Msi).
What is Sandstone used for?
- paving and walkways
- building facades and cladding
- landscape walls
- roofing tiles (flagstone)
- interior flooring
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 0.09 kg CO₂/kg, better than 95% of natural material grades
- Conducts heat well — 2 W/m·K (1.16 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of natural material grades
- High service temperature — 250°C (482 °F), better than 85% of natural material grades
- Stiff — 15 GPa (2.18 Msi), better than 81% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 15/100, worse than 90% of natural material grades
- Limited ductility — 0.25%, worse than 86% of natural material grades
- Heavy — 2.25 g/cm³ (0.0813 lb/in³), worse than 81% of natural material grades
Sandstone properties
Typical room-temperature values for Sandstone-C616-I; bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical3
Sandstone has a density of 2.25 g/cm³ (0.0813 lb/in³), heavier than 81% of natural material grades. It melts at 1,650°C (3,002 °F).
Mechanical12
Sandstone has a tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.435 ksi), weaker than 87% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.25% and the elastic modulus is 15 GPa (2.18 Msi).
Thermal5
Sandstone is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 2 W/m·K (1.16 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 10.5 µm/m·K (5.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Sandstone has an electrical resistivity of 10,000 Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), better than 53% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Sandstone takes about 2 MJ of energy and emits 0.09 kg of CO₂ — less than 94% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Sandstone's machinability is very good (70/100, worse than 67% of natural material grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Working with Sandstone
Is Sandstone easy to machine?
Cut and profiled with diamond blades, wire saws and CNC routers under water flood; soft and easy to carve but highly abrasive — expect fast diamond-segment wear and avoid dry cutting (silica dust hazard).
Can Sandstone be welded?
Not weldable; joints are made with epoxy/polyester stone adhesive, mortar bedding or mechanical anchors (kerf, undercut, dowel).
Can Sandstone be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped only by subtractive quarrying, splitting along bedding planes, sawing, bush-hammering or hand carving — no plastic forming.
Sandstone chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| SiO2free silica (quartz grains + siliceous cement); ASTM C616 class minima 60/90/95 % | 60 – 95 | 80 |
| Al2O3feldspar and clay matrix | 1 – 12 | 7 |
| Fe2O3iron oxide cement — source of red/brown/yellow color | 0.3 – 6 | 2.5 |
| CaOcalcareous cement; raises acid sensitivity | 0.1 – 8 | 1.5 |
| K2O + Na2O | 0.2 – 5 | 2 |
| MgO | 0.1 – 3 | 0.8 |
| LOI / other mineralscarbonates, micas, organics, bound water | balance |
What surface finishes work on Sandstone?
Typical finishes are sawn, honed, sandblasted, bush-hammered, flamed or split-face; will not take a mirror polish. Impregnating silane/siloxane sealers are recommended against staining, efflorescence and freeze–thaw damage.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Sandstone in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- C616
- Also called
- Sandstone Dimension Stone
How much does Sandstone cost?
Sandstone is a budget-cost natural material ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sandstone — frequently asked
What is Sandstone used for?
Sandstone is typically used for paving and walkways, building facades and cladding, landscape walls, roofing tiles (flagstone) and interior flooring. In short: easiest-carving building stone; naturally slip-resistant paving; porous, needs sealing.
What is the tensile strength of Sandstone?
Sandstone has a typical tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.435 ksi) — weaker than 87% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Sandstone easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (70/100, worse than 67% of natural material grades). Cut and profiled with diamond blades, wire saws and CNC routers under water flood; soft and easy to carve but highly abrasive — expect fast diamond-segment wear and avoid dry cutting (silica dust hazard).
Can Sandstone be welded?
Not weldable; joints are made with epoxy/polyester stone adhesive, mortar bedding or mechanical anchors (kerf, undercut, dowel).
What surface finishes work on Sandstone?
Typical finishes are sawn, honed, sandblasted, bush-hammered, flamed or split-face; will not take a mirror polish. Impregnating silane/siloxane sealers are recommended against staining, efflorescence and freeze–thaw damage.
Can Sandstone be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped only by subtractive quarrying, splitting along bedding planes, sawing, bush-hammering or hand carving — no plastic forming.
What is the maximum service temperature of Sandstone?
Sandstone is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Sandstone cost?
Sandstone is a budget-cost natural material ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM C616 Standard Specification for Quartz-Based Dimension Stone — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM C99 / C170 / C97 (modulus of rupture, compressive strength, absorption and bulk specific gravity of dimension stone) — ASTM International (2018)
- GB/T 18600 / GB/T 18601 (related dimension-stone test practice) (2009)
- Rock Mechanics property compilations (ISRM suggested methods; strength, modulus and K_IC of sedimentary rock) — ISRM / Elsevier (2015)
- Thermophysical and geophysical property tables for sedimentary rock — AGU/Geothermal handbooks (2011)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.