**5. Conclusions**

Quartz arenite sandstones were formed during Lower Cretaceous in the southern and northern parts of Israel. The fine fraction observed by TEM includes clay minerals mainly kaolinite and small amounts of illite and smectite. Additional minerals that contribute to the colors of the sandstones are iron oxides, goethite and hematite. The initial phase of iron oxides that coat quartz grains or form clusters was goethite, and hematite crystals preserved the initial acicular goethite structure. Ilmenite preserved within clay minerals disintegrate into small crystals enriched with iron. The tiny euhedral crystals of Ti oxides were probably formed in the sand. Jarosite and alunite observed in Ramon and Hatira craters were crystallized in the sandstones due to short transgression of the Thetis Sea.
