QUARTZITE

Quartzite

Quartzite is in most cases, but not all, an extremely an extremely compact, hard, granular rock consisting essentially of quartz. It often occurs as silicified sandstone, as in sarsen stones.  Quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to grey, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink and red due to varying amounts of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃). Other colors, such as yellow, green, blue and orange, are due to other minerals.

  It is available in 20mm and 30mm slabs and is available in polished and honed finishes, and it can also be brushed/leathered.  The majority of quartzite is hard which means it has good scratch resistance.  Some quartzite has good resistance to acidity while others have a resistance in between marble and granite and others have no resistance to acidity.  It is available in colours and veining more reminiscent of marbles rather than granites.  It could almost be said that they have the look of marble but with some of the qualities of a granite.  The majority of quartzite is from Brazil.