Research Article| May 01, 1963 Analysis and Review of Sandstone Classifications in the North American Geological Literature, 1940–1960 GEORGE de VRIES KLEIN GEORGE de VRIES KLEIN Dept. Geology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information GEORGE de VRIES KLEIN Dept. Geology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 16 Apr 1962 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1963, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1963) 74 (5): 555–576. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[555:AAROSC]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 16 Apr 1962 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation GEORGE de VRIES KLEIN; Analysis and Review of Sandstone Classifications in the North American Geological Literature, 1940–1960. GSA Bulletin 1963;; 74 (5): 555–576. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[555:AAROSC]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Between 1940 and 1960, 17 field and laboratory classifications of sandstones were proposed in the North American geological literature. These classifications were based on combinations of several criteria including (1) mineral composition (provenance), (2) diastrophism, (3) mineralogical maturity, (4) textural maturity (index of sorting), (5) fluidity factor (measure of density and viscosity of the transport agent), and (6) primary structures.Field and laboratory studies confirmed that provenance and mineralogical maturity are the only factors controlling the mineral composition of sandstones. Diastrophism does not control sandstone composition. Classifications which proposed terms denoting a combination of texture and composition were found to ignore the basic sedimentological observation that texture and mineral composition are independently behaving factors in sand deposition. The fluidity factor (per cent matrix indicating depositional fluid's viscosity and density) ignores that increasing or decreasing clay matrix can also be controlled by changes in fluid viscosity, granular abrasion, diagenesis, size sorting of original material in source area, and organic reworking. Primary structures cannot be used to define sandstone classes because the criteria selected for separating deep-marine from shallow-marine sandstones are known to overlap both depositional conditions.The writer recommends that the approach to sandstone classification outlined by Folk (1954) and Van Andel (1958) be followed because separate terms are proposed for grain size, textural maturity, and mineral composition. Such an approach does not vitiate in any way the classical understanding of sandstone classes. It is logically consistent with a variety of data from both Recent sands and ancient sandstones where the independence of texture and composition are known. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.