• Four views of option A, a light brown arch asymmetric at the top with an irregular hole through the center. The piece has good layering on one side with scallop patterning down one edge. The other side exposes dark patches of the iron banding in a pattern between sweeping curves of light sandstone.
  • Light sandstone arches spread over a small mint-green table, with red gravel beneath them. They have pale tan color with faint to dark brown layering, and some have dark brown iron bands protruding.
  • Close view of option H, a flat slab piece curved like a wave with light gray-brown sandstone cut through with dark brown iron bands that stand out from the surface.
  • Four views of option B, a light brown arch bulging in the middle, with an oval hole through the center. The piece has around eight dark brown iron bands through it at regular intervals, which protrude from the light sandstone which has curved layering between bands. The piece is capped with a dark flat layer.
  • Four views of option C, a light-colored rectangular blocky arch angled to ones side like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The piece has two holes through the center, separated by a dense dark brown iron band running through the center, and protruding from the sides with squared corners. There are several smaller dark iron bands that protrude less dramatically. There is only a little light layering on the rest of the piece.
  • Four views of option D, a dramatic angular arch shaped like a wind-swept frozen wave, with a round hole through the center. The sandstone is light-colored with little layering, and some bold dark brown banding running diagonally through it, and protruding from the surface.
  • Four views of option E, a ridiculously elongated and tall arch with a small round hole through the center, shaped like a thin tall triangle. The material has complex craggy dark iron banding through it making scallop patterning on one sire, and more irregular bold patterning on the other side.
  • Four views of option F, a flat wide off-square arch with and oval hole through the middle. The sandstone is lighter-colored with some dark iron banding creating pattern in one bottom corner, and a protruding ring on one top corner.
  • Four views of option G, a low flat wide arch with the round hole off-center under the peak of the arch. The main part of the arch is brown with subtle banding that turns into good scallop patterning. It ends and abruptly turns near-white for the low stretching point at the base.
  • Four views of option H, an arch shaped like a wave, with a flat oval hole through the middle. The piece has excellent layering, with bold iron bands crossing through it and protruding, and light layering in the top half of the pieace.
  • Scale image showing options A through H on a measuring mat. Dimensions are at the end of the full description.
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Sandstone arch, small Kanab Goldenstone

Sandstone arch, small Kanab Goldenstone

$10.00 USD
$10.00 USD
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Locale: Arizona

Approx size and weight 0.5 to 1.2 lb, variable by piece; dimensions at end.

 

These sandstone arches mimic the grand arches of Utah’s national parks. They are made of Kanab Goldenstone sandstone, a lighter-colored sandstone sourced from an area near Kanab, just across the Arizona border. Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand compacted and cemented together through geological processes, giving it a grainy texture. Sandstone with distinct layering like this can be called ‘picture stone’ because the layers resemble a southwestern landscape. It is often cut into flat slabs to best show the pattern, and nicer pieces are even framed for display.

The coloration of the sandstone is caused by iron, which also forms thick chocolate-brown bands criss-crossing the material. These arches are originally created by drilling a hole through a chunk of sandstone and sandblasting the material into a smoothed arch. The iron bands are harder than the surrounding sandstone and create ridges as the softer material is more quickly sandblasted away—just like the material would erode in nature.

All pieces have a flat bottom for display. Sandstone arches make a nice decorative accent piece around the home or in a desert terrarium. I put a few pieces I broke into my tanks and the isopods have enjoyed climbing them. Just be aware sandstone is a porous rock that will soak up water over time if used in wetter terrariums. This doesn’t seem to cause any issues other than some discoloration and spotty “growth” on the rock over time. Place it on a surface that will stay dry to avoid this.

Approx. dimensions:
A - 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.75"
B - 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.25"
C - 4 x 2.75 x 1.5"
D - 4 x 4 x 2"
E - 8.25 x 2 x 1"
F - 5 x 4 x .75"
G - 3.75 x 4.75 x .75"
H - 4 x 3.5 x 1"

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