lithic arenite

sedimentary rock
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: litharenite

lithic arenite, sandstone (i.e., sedimentary rock composed of grains 0.06–2 mm [0.0024–0.08 inch] in diameter) containing over 50 percent rock fragments. Lithic arenites most often are of gray or salt-and-pepper colour because of the inclusion of dark rock fragments, mainly slate, phyllite, or schist but also andesite or basalt. Lithic arenites formed by rapid deposition in areas subject to crustal deformation.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.