For a good model, consider the west coast of the US as tectonically active - steep slopes, mountains close to the sea, lots of earthquakes, tectonic uplift, and volcanic activity. On the other hand, consider the east coast of the US as tectonically passive - broad, flat coastal plain, few or no earthquakes, no uplift, and no volcanic activity. If a sand has a lot of feldspar or rock fragments , it probably indicates high tectonic activity. If a sand has a lot of quartz, it probably indicates low tectonic activity - a passive setting . High tectonic activity might produce rapid dumping of sediments into the basin with little or no time for sorting.
Texture gives the key information.
Time duration in the depositional environment Both mineralogy and texture can be used to determine time in the depositinal environment. Quartz is more resistant to abrasion than feldspar or rock fragments. Textural maturity is also useful in interpreting time in the depositional environment. Immature or submature sediments probably spent only a short time in the basin before burial. Mature or supermature sediments were probably rolling around in the basin for a long time before burial.