Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed of fine grains of quartz and other minerals. It varies in hardness and composition depending on the process of its formation and comes in a range of colours, ranging from pale yellow to dark red. In the Roman period sandstone was widely used as a building stone, especially in the north-western Europe, North Africa and Egypt. It is also sometimes used for sculpture though it can be difficult to achieve fine detail when carving sandstone which is also prone to weathering.
