Sedimentary rocks are formed at or near the surface of the earth. Most of these sediments are deposited in beds or layers by water or wind as a result of weathering (erosion). Sedimentary rocks can be classified by their mode of origin as clastic, chemical or organic.
Clastic sedimentary rocks like sandstone are composed of rock fragments or mineral grains broken from any type of pre-existing rock. Chemical sedimentary rocks like gypsum result from precipitation of dissolved materials in fresh or salt water. Organic sedimentary rocks like coal form from an accumulation of plant or animal debris.
Rockman's sedimentary rock specimens are hand broken as opposed to being crushed which helps keep cleavage and fracture characteristics intact and provides freshly broken areas for better examination of the specimens. If you are looking for a specimen that is not listed, please contact us; we may have it in stock or we may be able to locate it. We offer our sedimentary specimens as 10-packs provided in resealable bags or a large specimen in a cardboard box; except Diatomite which is offered in three different bag sizes.
We offers the 3 standard sizes of sedimentary rocks as illustrated:



Argillite (red to brown)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS005b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS005c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS005d]
Arkose (red, coarse-grained)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS010b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS010c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS010d]
Breccia (angular fragments cemented together)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS032b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS032c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS032d]
Coal - Bituminous
- 10 Pack - Small [RS030b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS030c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS030d]
Coal - Lignite (soft, crumbly)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS035b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS035c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS035d]
Conglomerate (mixed pebbles)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS050b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS050c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS050d]
Diatomite (high grade powdered diatom skeltetal fossil remains)
- 5 Pack - 2"x2" bag [RS055b]
- 5 Pack - 3"x3" bag [RS055c]
- 2 Pack - 4"x4" bag [RS055d]
Dolomite Rock - Dolostone (light tan, gray or pinkish)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS060b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS060c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS060d]
Greywacke (medium gray, poorly sorted grains & fragments)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS073b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS073c]
Limestone - Compact (fine-grained)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS080b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS080c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS080d]
Limestone - Chalk
- 10 Pack - Small [RS081b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS081c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS081d]
Limestone - Coquina
- 10 Pack - Small [RS082b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS082c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS082d]
Limestone - Fossiliferous
- 10 Pack - Small [RS083b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS083c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS083d]
Limestone - Oolitic (small ooids visable)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS085b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS085c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS085d]
Phosphorite (contains high amounts of phosphate)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS090b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS090c]
Rock Salt - Halite (white to red granular)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS100b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS100c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS100d]
Sandstone - Banded (light red, with visible layering)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS120b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS120c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS120d]
Sandstone - Yellow (gritty)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS110b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS110c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS110d]
Sandstone - Red (fine to medium-grained)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS115b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS115c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS115d]
Sandstone - Gray to White (siliceous, gritty)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS125b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS125c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS125d]
Shale - Bituminous (black, thin sheets)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS127b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS127c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS127d]
Shale - Carbonaceous (black to dark gray, may contain fern fragments)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS128b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS128c]
Shale - Gray (varies from soft argillaceous to harder fissile shale)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS129b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS129c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS129d]
Shale - Red (argillaceous)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS130b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS130c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS130d]
Shale - Tan/Buff
- 10 Pack - Small [RS132b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS132c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS132d]
Oil Shale (brown, trapped oil)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS135b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS135c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS135d]
Siltstone (tan or gray)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS140b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS140c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS140d]
Tufa (calcium carbonate precipitate, a more porous type of travertine)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS141b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS141c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS141d]
Travertine (calcium carbonate precipitate)
- 10 Pack - Small [RS142b]
- 10 Pack - Medium [RS142c]
- 1 Large Sample [RS142d]