Is that countertop you have really quartzite? Is it?
If you read my post “Countertop Talks Part 1”, you would know that the answer to the above question is “probably not”. If you have not read that article yet, I highly recommend reading Part 1 first to get familiar with the names of some of the stone types we will touch on in this article. Either way, knowing how the different stones form in nature helps us understand their properties, similarities, and differences and appreciate the forces of nature a little more.
The Origins of Rocks
If you missed my previous post - Countertop Talks Part 2 - Glorious Granite and the Likes or just need a refresher on the origins of rocks, here it is.
On a very high level, there are three types of stones or rocks namely Igneous rocks, Sedimentary rocks, and Metamorphic rocks.
Igneous rocks are formed from cooled magma either on land or in underwater magma chambers under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure.
Sedimentary rocks on the other hand form through the process of sedimentation which involves the deposition and compacting of sand, clay, and other minerals over time. This process can happen on land, meaning on beaches, deserts, or even on rivers and ocean floors.
Finally, we have Metamorphic rocks which as the name suggests form through the metamorphosis of stone! This process of metamorphosis takes millions of years and occurs under extreme environments of temperature and pressure.
I am not a geologist by any measure so, if you would like to geek out and learn more about the origins of rocks, check out this article written by a Geologist: Geology of Natural Stone
What type of rock is quartzite?
Well... Quartzite is a metamorphic rock and the coolest of them all (at least to me). Quartzite, just like Schist and Gneiss starts out as a different rock – Sandstone and transforms into Quartzite.
What is Sandstone? Sandstone is a sedimentary rock which as the name alludes forms with the aggregation of sand from beaches or rivers. When the sand particles are subjected to some pressure and heat over time, they combine to form Sandstone. It is important to note here that Sandstones are formed under relatively less pressure and temperature compared to other stones due to which the structure of the rock is quite open and highly absorbent. However, the structure of the sandstone and its porosity improves as the stone is subjected to further heat and pressure giving us sandstones with lower levels of water absorption.
When the sand particles in the Sandstone have completely melted and fused into one large mass due to the extreme heat and pressure, the resulting rock is what we call Quartzite. Quartzite by nature is very strongly bonded and has close to zero water absorption. Now, just like I pointed out in Part 2 of this series, there is no definitive point where Sandstone turns into Quartzite. Instead, we have Sandstones with high to very low water absorption and Quartzites with low to zero water absorption. Given the lack of a definitive reference point where a stone is a Sandstone or Quartzite, the natural stone industry refers to all these stones with varying porosities as Quartzites.
Is Quartzite better than Sandstone?
It depends on what you are looking to achieve in your space and who the regular users of the space are. Sandstones are like puppies, beautiful, dramatic, attention seeking, and more demanding of your time while Quartzites are like well-trained dogs who are calmer, less needing our attention and low maintenance. Both stones are made of the mineral quartz and hence, very hard but Sandstones, depending on their age can be easier to scratch than quartzites of any age. Sandstones are also trickier to work with depending on their structure and hence, a little more expensive to get fabricated while quartzite is less fussy and easier to work with for fabricators.
My general advice to clients if they have young kids or host a lot of parties with unruly guests, is to go with quartzites like the Taj Mahal – which do not etch, scratch, or absorb liquids and thus, are easier to maintain. Otherwise, as long as you know and do not mind the little extra love that sandstones need, either stone will not disappoint you!
I for one, love the drama, personality, and stories that come with sandstones and chose sandstone for my kitchen, knowing the increased maintenance it would entail – sealing it every six months and cleaning it whenever there are spills. It has definitely taken a few spills during our parties but, with some TLC, it is just as gorgeous as ever.
Have countertop questions? Confused about quartzites? Hit me up! I love talking about them. :)
Check out my other posts on the origins of different stones like Part 2 on all types of Granite, Part 4 on Marbles, Part 5 on Travertine, Part 6 on Onyx, and Part 7 on Soapstone.
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