Identifying sedimentary rocks in hand specimen I'm currently learning how to identify rocks in hand specimen. The initial classification into igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary is mostly ok, but I'm having a problem with further identifying sedimentary rocks—I don't know how to tell if they're calcareous or siliceous without using HCl, which seems somewhat impractical to use on every sedimentary rock I see. Is there any good way of telling?
When learning to distinguish between siliceous and calcareous samples you should use a handlens.  Look for quartz, feldspars or micas.  Quartz clasts may be frosted, or you may be able to see conchoidal fracture.  Calcite will be very soft compared to both feldspar and quartz, and should fail to scratch copper (or at least not scratch it very well, while a quartz rich sedimentary hand sample will scratch glass.

For really fine grained stuff, there are times when you may need to use the context of site where the sample is from if you don't have HCL.  There can be sedimentary rocks that are made up of siliceous clasts that react with HCL due to calcite in the matrix, so HCL can be misleading.  I've even found that some mudstones and limestones can have an organic odor.

Lastly, there are structures that can suggest if a sample is siliceous or calcareous.  Styolites would suggest non-siliceous while thermal alterations like liesegang banding would suggest siliceous.

The more samples you tackle, the easier it gets.