Sandstone begins to form when loose Sand grains accumulate in a depositional environment. This can occur in various settings, such as riverbeds, deltas, beaches, or deserts. In the Middle East, desert environments and ancient river systems have been significant contributors to sand accumulation. As compaction continues, the sand grains become more tightly packed and may undergo a process called lithification, transforming the loose sand into solid rock. Cementation plays a crucial role in this process, as Minerals precipitate and fill the gaps between sand grains, binding them together. The cementing minerals can include silica (silica cement), calcium carbonate (calcite cement), iron oxide (hematite cement), or Clay minerals (argillaceous cement). The specific composition of the cementing material influences the color and properties of the resulting sandstone.

The ancient city of Petra, famous for its impressive architecture carved into the Sandstone cliffs, features extensive sandstone formations. The iconic structures, including the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Monastery (Ad Deir), and numerous tombs and temples, showcase the beauty and versatility of sandstone in the region. Wadi Rum, a desert valley in southern Jordan, is known for its breathtaking sandstone landscapes. The area's towering sandstone cliffs and Rock formations, with their reddish hues, have made it a popular destination for tourists and filmmakers alike.

In the central region of Turkey, Cappadocia is renowned for its unique rock formations, known as "fairy chimneys." These formations are composed of volcanic ash and sandstone eroded over millions of years, creating a surreal and captivating landscape. The Al Hajar Mountains, stretching across Oman and the United Arab Emirates, contain extensive sandstone formations. The rugged mountain range showcases towering cliffs, deep canyons, and dramatic rock formations, all primarily composed of sandstone.

Wadi Al-Mujib, a river canyon in Jordan, features sandstone cliffs and gorges. The area is known for its stunning natural beauty, with the sandstone walls rising dramatically above the river and creating a picturesque landscape. The Zagros Mountains, extending across Iran, Iraq, and southeastern Turkey, contain sandstone formations along with other sedimentary rocks. These mountains are an important geological feature in the region and have shaped the landscape and cultural history of the area.

The formation of rocks, which are sandstones, is such that they are permeable to water and their porosity is such that they can hold large amounts of water, which makes them precious watersheds. Fine-grained watersheds such as sandstones are more prone to filtering contaminants from the surface than Rocks such as limestone and other rocks formed by seismic activity. 

The formation of sandstone involves two principal stages. If the sand is deposited close to its source rock, it will resemble the source rock in composition. However, the more time and distance that separate the source rock from the sand deposit, the greater its composition will change during transport. Grains that are composed of easily weathered materials will be modified, and grains that are physically weak will be reduced in size or destroyed.

Over time, as additional layers of sediment accumulate above the sand, the weight of the overlying material increases. This leads to compaction of the sand layer beneath, reducing pore spaces between grains and causing the grains to pack tightly together. The increasing pressure from the overlying sediment promotes compaction, squeezing out any excess water. Over geologic time, the buried sand layers experience diagenesis, which involves physical and Chemical changes due to pressure, temperature, and fluid movement. This process further enhances the compaction and cementation of the sand, solidifying it into sandstone. Geological processes like tectonic activity, erosion, and uplift may also play a role in exposing sandstone formations in mines.

Source