• Option A, four coasters with excellent scenic pattern resembling a sunset over a mountain range, in progression.
  • Round flat red sandstone coasters spread evenly over a table-top with similarly colored gravel beneath them.
  • An example coaster held in a hand for scale, the piece showing excellent scenic formations like a sunset over a sand dune.
  • The back of the coaster, covered with a thin layer of cork padding.
  • A coaster held sideways to show it is a relatively thin slab of sandstone
  • A red sandstone coaster with a specimen of vanadinite on it, on a shelf with other minerals spread around it.
  • Option B, four coasters with irregular patterns, some thick dark iron banding cutting through each piece with small scalloped patterns, and light colored material on the edge of some pieces, with wispy sweeping layers through the middle.
  • Option C, four coasters where the upper third has diagonal sweeping layers, with a bold dark iron band cutting across like a horizon, and thin dark iron bands running through horizontally below like rolling hills with some light scalloping pattern.
  • Option D, four coasters with a hill-like shape formed by a dark iron band and deeper red layering at the bottom. There is more even horizontal layering above, with light spots in it.
  • Option E, four coasters with lighter color, each about one-third near-white with only light layering. A dark iron band cuts across this with scalloped pattern, red layers sweeping off it. Part of the layering is a warm orange-red, and part a deeper brick red.
  • Option F, four coasters with lighter color, each about one-third near-white with only light layering. A dark iron band cuts across this with scalloped pattern, red layers sweeping off it below and with a sun-like formation in one corner. Part of the layering is a warm orange-red, and part a deeper brick red.
  • Option G, four coasters with excellent scenic pattern, appearing like different views of a saturated red sand dune with sweeping scallop-pattern clouds above it, one coasted with rings like a sun.
  • Option H, four coasters that are almost entirely horizontal parallel layers with good contrast. At on edge, there is a thin dark iron band with some scallop pattern, and near white spots.
  • Option I, four coasters with quite different pattern from the rest of the options. They are covered with angular horizontal streaks of a red sandstone color and a mottled white and light brick-red color, which gives them a light pinkish coloration overall.
  • Option J, four coasters with very good scenic patterning, with dark iron bands tapered from medium to very thin and with scallop patterns, resembling hills or a landscape. Softer sweeping layers above appear as sky.
  • Option K, four coasters with thin light sweeping layers curved across the center, with thin dark iron bands along the sides with some scallop patterning.
  • Option L, four coasters with very good scenic pattern, like the sun setting over a desert landscape in a series. Deep red rings appear like the sun, with thin dark iron bands with small scallop pattern creating the landscape features.
  • A coaster on a measuring mat, showing it measures a bit under four inches in diameter.
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Sandstone coaster sets of four, Arizona Sierra

Sandstone coaster sets of four, Arizona Sierra

$30.00 USD
$30.00 USD
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Locale: Arizona

Material: Arizona Sierra Sandstone

Drink coasters, sets of four

Approx size each coaster has a diameter of 3 2/3" and is 1/3" thick, backed with a 1.5mm thick layer of cork padding.

Approx weight each coaster weighs around 4.75oz, for a set total weight around 18.75 to 19.5oz

 

Sandstone is a porous rock that soaks up water, making it an ideal material for drink coasters—condensation easily absorbs into the rock without damaging it. I also like to use sandstone coasters as an accent piece under specimens in my mineral cabinets.

These sandstone coasters are made of Arizona Sierra sandstone sourced from central Arizona. 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 is often called ‘picture stone’ because the layers resemble a southwestern landscape. It is often cut into flat slabs to best show the layering, and nicer pieces are even framed for display. These flat coasters display the scenic patterning well, with each set cut from adjacent material so that pieces match. (If you want more than one set, options E and F match!)

The orange-red coloration of these coasters is caused by iron. People often assume “Arizona Sierra” simply refers to the material’s locale, but it’s actually a trade name for sandstone from this locale that has been heat-treated to intensify its red color.

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