Quartzite is a metamorphic rock made almost entirely of the mineral quartz. Quartzite begins its geologic life as sand grains, perhaps on a beach, desert dune, or riverbed. Over time, the sand grains become compressed and stuck together to form sandstone. If the sandstone gets buried ever more deeply underneath layers of rocks, it gets hotter and more compressed. With enough heat and pressure, the sand grains lose their original shape and fuse to their neighbours, forming a dense, durable rock. The process is similar to individual snowflakes merging into solid, glacial ice. Quartzite is usually white or light-coloured because quartz sand is light coloured. Additional minerals carried by groundwater can impart hues of green, blue, or ion-red. Van Gogh and Azul Macaubas quartzites are examples of vivid colouring. Regardless of colour, quartzite is made of one thing: quartz. (Note I’m talking about the mineral quartz, not the composite countertop material that is also named quartz.) Properties of quartzite That’s helpful because quartz has distinct properties that make it easy to tell apart from other minerals. You needn’t be a geologist to appreciate the hardness and durability of quartzite. Not only does this make for a tough stone, but it also makes it easy to tell quartzite from the imposters. That means it’s harder than glass and harder than a knife blade.

These things are easy to test with a sample of stone. If a rock that is labelled as quartzite is soft, then it was mislabeled. The unfortunate term “soft quartzite” has emerged to try to explain why a rock that is labelled quartzite is actually not hard and durable like real quartzite. There is no such thing as soft quartzite though. There is only one kind of quartzite and it’s hard. A rock labelled as soft quartzite is most likely marble. Quartzite will not etch from acids like lemon juice or vinegar. If a rock labelled as quartzite becomes etched from acid, then it’s been mislabeled. Marble and dolomitic marble, on the other hand, will etch from these acids. Dolomitic marble etches slightly more slowly than regular marble. But quartzite will not etch at all from normal kitchen acids.

Some, like Taj Mahal or Sea Pearl, have been highly metamorphosed, and the minerals are bonded together tightly. Things that do not help distinguish quartzite from non-quartzite White Macaubas and Calacatta Macaubas have been exposed to less intense pressure, so they are more porous and will benefit from sealing. The country of origin, price, or the name of a stone are not reliable indicators of what type of rock you’ve got. Quartzite is so durable it is often used as bedding around a railroad track.In many cases, it’s not even possible to tell marble and quartzite apart visually. In other words, décor + decorum = Quartzite Quartzite also populates more high kitchen counter tops and Bar-B-Ques projecting a flashy look that isn’t over the top. With a combination of colors so dynamic to the untrained eye, restaurants have frequently enjoyed the benefits of Quartzite as a decorative layer. It is so thick, it must be taken from the Earth’s surface, rather than mined underground. Sealing quartzite isn’t mandatory as it is with the other stones, because it is less porous.

In fact, quartzite is so dense, it’s often more challenging to fabricate. Typically lighter, veiny movement, Quartzite is often described as having the look of marble but the density and durability of granite. 90% comprised of Quartz, Quartzite is often found in hills, mountain ranges and rocky coastlines. Hard metamorphic (changing) sandstone rock that is heated with quartz pieces recrystallized to produce a look that looks more like a painting than a pattern.

Sealing aquarella quartzite