granite
Granite becomes Sandstone when water erodes the Granite on Earths surface, and then deposits the sediment.
Quartzite
Limestone is porous and can absorb water, while sandstone is also porous but less absorbent than limestone. Granite is a denser and less porous rock, so it does not absorb water as readily as limestone or sandstone.
Because sandstone has wider particles than shale and this let's the water through.
Sandstone is typically older than shale, as sandstone forms from the consolidation of sand particles through compaction and cementation, while shale forms from the compaction of clay and silt particles. Sandstone is generally associated with sedimentary environments that occurred earlier in geological history compared to those where shale forms.
Sandstone is extremely porous and absorbs liquids like a sponge.. Shale is nearly impervious to liquids.
"The two basic rocks found in the Mammoth Cave area are limestone and sandstone. Limestone is the "soft" rock (more water soluble) that is dissolved more easily by water. Sandstone and shale are the rocks that are on top of the cave. They are "harder" (less water soluble) and don't let the water soak into the cave." http://www.nps.gov/archive/maca/learnhome/cur_k3_cla.htm
Shale is a type of sedimentary rock composed of fine-grained sediment particles, including clay and silt. While shale is porous and can contain water within its pore spaces, it does not absorb water like a sponge. Instead, water can flow through the interconnected pore network in shale.
Sandstone, Limestone and Shale are all examples of sedimentary rock, formed by layer after layer of different types of water born sediment laid down over millions of years and compressed into rock. The different types of sediment determine which type of rock is formed, obviously sand being the main component of sandstone, mud can form shale. Igneous rock is rock formed by volcanic processes, different minerals in the molten rock will determine it's type, such as granite. Metamorphic rock is the third type of rock formed by extreme pressure and heat upon sedimentary rock, marble being formed from limestone, slate from shale.
Permeable rocks: sandstone, limestone, and conglomerate. These rocks have interconnected pores that allow water and other fluids to flow through them. Impermeable rocks: granite, basalt, and shale. These rocks have very few or no pores, making them resistant to the movement of water and fluids.
Shale and sandstone are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that compact well to preserve fossils due to their low porosity and permeability. Conglomerate, being a coarse-grained rock with larger particles and higher porosity, tends to have more spaces for organic material to decompose or be destroyed before preservation can occur.
Water can pass easily through sandstone because it is a porous and permeable rock, meaning it has interconnected spaces that allow water to flow through. In contrast, shale is composed of fine particles that are tightly packed, resulting in low porosity and permeability. This makes it difficult for water to move through shale, effectively trapping it within the rock. Thus, the structural differences between these two types of sedimentary rocks influence their ability to transmit water.