Quartzites: all you need to know

You have probably heard that quartzites are a great option when it comes to countertops or vanities, right? But do you know why? In this article you will learn more about this huge Brazilian hit in the stone market. 

Quartzite is formed by pure or nearly pure quartz sandstone under heating and pressure. The sand grains melt and recrystallize, cemented together by silica. Most quartzites contain 90% quartz by volume, but the percentage can go up to 99% in the case of the purest quartzite forms.

As we showed on the Explaning Quartzite and Marble article, the initial step of the natural development of the quartzite structure is directly related to its humidity absorption level, strength, resistance to scratching and other properties that must be considered when picking stones for a specific project application.

Resistance

As described in the What are hard marbles? article, “in the field of Mineralogy, to quantify the hardness of a mineral, the Mohs Scale is used, developed by the German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1812 and is formed by 10 minerals ranked in order of hardness”.

You don’t need to be an expert on geology to grasp the hardness and durability of natural stones, specifically quartzites. Quartzite is usually ranked 7 on Mohs hardness scale, in other words, it’s harder than a knife blade, for instance. Therefore, you can use it on countertops or kitchen tables.

Waterproofing

Another super important feature of quartzite stone is impermeability.

This stone practically does not absorb liquids, which makes it very resistant against stains.

Because of this, quartzite is an intelligent option for bathrooms, laundry areas and other wet ambiances. If it is sealed, it can guarantee even more resistance.

Style

While some quartzites are more suitable for indoor and decorative uses, almost all of them are a great option for outdoor areas. Some have crystals in their structure, leading them to be practically transparent, giving an elegant look when used with a backlight.

Being a natural stone, it is frequently found in whites and grays, with occasional beiges asits base color. When iron oxides and other minerals dominate, quartzite takes shades of pinks and reds, blends of blues and yellows, and sea green. Some of them come in purple, brown, and black — all thanks to different minerals that were around when sandstone was undergoing metamorphosis.

After this interesting article about this amazing natural stone, the only remaining question is: which Zucchi quartzite will you choose? We have a vast array of quartzites, marbles and granites available and you can check it out in our online inventory by clicking here. Or, if you prefer to  contact our sales team, send an email to: offers@zucchistones.com.