Homemade Sandstone

Sandstone is made of sand that has been deposited by water or wind and that has been compacted for millions of years. You can make your own sandstone in about a week or two.

Materials Needed:
½ cup of water
2 paper cups
2½ tablespoons of Epsom salts (available at drug stores)
½ cup of dry sand
spoon

Directions:

1. Put 1½ inches of water in the bottom of one of the paper cups.
2. Dissolve the Epsom salts in the water. Stir until almost all the salt has disappeared. The salt will cement the particles of together, just as certain minerals cement sand particles together in real sandstone.
3. Put 1½ inches of sand in the bottom of the other paper cup.
4. Pour the salt mixture into the sand and stir until the sand is completely wet.
5. Let the wet mixture sit untouched for about one hour. Then carefully pour off all the water that has risen to the top. You will need to pour off the excess water several times during the first day of the activity. Keep the paper cup in a place where no one will touch it for at least a week. Do not cover the cup.
6. When the sandstone has dried completely, tear the paper cup away from it. If you find that the sides and bottom are still damp, let the sandstone sit untouched until it is completely dry. It will have the texture of real sandstone.