What is "greensand"

Greensand \Green"sand`\ (-s[a^]nd`), n. (Geol.) A variety of sandstone, usually imperfectly consolidated, consisting largely of glauconite, a silicate of iron and potash of a green color, mixed with sand and a trace of phosphate of lime.

Note: [hand]Greensand is often called marl, because it is a useful fertilizer. The greensand beds of the American Cretaceous belong mostly to the Upper Cretaceous.

n. (context geology English) A greenish sandstone containing glauconite.

n. an olive-green sandstone containing glauconite

Greensand or Green sand is either a sand or sandstone, which has a greenish color. This term is specifically applied to shallow marine sediment, that contains noticeable quantities of rounded greenish grains. These grains are called glauconies and consist of a mixture of mixed-layer clay minerals, such as smectite and glauconite mica. Greensand is also loosely applied to any glauconitic sediment.

Greensand is a type of sand or the sandstone created from said sand.

Greensand or green sand may also refer to:

• Green sand, used in sand casting. See Sand casting#Green sand
• Greensand, New Jersey, an unincorporated community in the United States
• Greensand Ridge, an escarpment in England
• Greensand Ridge Walk, a long distance path in England
• Greensand Way, a long-distance path in England