Marble and quartzite, two natural stones that offer great advantages in terms of style, architectural strength and attractiveness. Each stone is a natural material that does not require any help from humans to form. Both have attractive looks. Each is offered as a surface material in stone yards for use in kitchens, bathrooms and a variety of other applications. However, these materials are quite different from each other.
In this article, we will compare marble and quartzite. During this process, we considered some properties of each natural stone. Plus, we’ll learn why these materials are used in homes, businesses, and more. Finally, we will discuss some of the factors that make these materials different from each other.
If you are interested in the comparison between stone materials, please refer to our previous articles:
1. Marble vs Quartz: Comparison from 7 Factors
2. Marble vs Granite: Comparison from 7 Factors
3. Comparison of 6 Stone Countertop Materials for the Kitchen
Marble is formed naturally through thousands of years of heat and pressure. The colors of other minerals will appear as veins or swirls throughout the stone, with no repeating or symmetrical patterns, and varying in depth and size. Marble also has some translucency, often allowing you to see a few millimeters down the surface, giving the material more depth.
The reason marble is so popular with artists and architects is that it is relatively soft and easy to cut and carve. The surest way to tell if marble is genuine is to test its hardness by cutting it with something sharp, such as a knife. Genuine marble countertops can develop scratches and etching over time. If you scratch the top of the marble with a knife (scratching only the underside of the marble slab) and see no damage, the surface is probably granite or engineered stone.
A metamorphic rock, marble originates from limestone and takes millions of years to form. It is most often associated with Italy, and most of the world’s supply is mined in the Carrara region around northern Tuscany.
Marble is truly a timeless and classic choice when it comes to building materials. This is evidenced by the fact that natural stone has been used to construct everything from the world’s most famous statues to kitchen and bathroom countertops. While there are many beautiful countertop materials out there, many homeowners simply don’t think there’s a material as beautiful as marble.
Marble can range in color from black to pure white. Marble is often available in a variety of colours, styles and ornate textures. Many of them have elegant grains, and the beauty of marble countertops is undoubtedly incomparable. If the marble is free of any impurities, it will be pristine pure white. However, most marble contains other minerals that can give it a blue, gray, pink, yellow or black color. However, the colors will not be very vibrant. Any other bright and vibrant color could indicate that the marble is man-made, or a natural stone mixed with other materials.
It’s cool and soft to the touch, especially compared to other materials like granite. But it’s porous, making it sensitive to acidic liquids like wine or certain cleaners. Marble can be prone to etching or staining if left unprotected – however, these problems can be easily fixed with a sealed marble countertop and an extra layer of protection. You have to reseal your marble countertops several times a year.
While much of marble’s appeal lies in its looks, the material is also relatively durable and has a timeless appeal to homeowners.
1. Timeless appeal, available in a variety of colors and styles.
2. Durable.
3. Luxuriously, marble is considered the material of choice for luxury apartment and residential buildings. It’s beautiful, and a proper marble countertop is a real star in any kitchen.
4. Real marble also has an unrivaled luster. This is often replicated in synthetic stone by adding small amounts of glass and other materials, but it doesn’t have the same long-lasting luster as marble.
1. Price: Per square foot, marble is one of the most expensive countertop materials you can buy. It is much more expensive than butcher block, even more expensive than quartz or granite. Get a quote before you fall in love with marble—it might not fit your remodeling budget.
2. Protection: Unlike granite and quartz, marble countertops are not scratch-resistant. You need to use a cutting board and take extra care to protect your countertops from accidental damage.
3. Stains: Marble absorbs liquids more readily than other stone countertops. This can be bad news for your kitchen, as it means you need to be vigilant about spills and cutting boards. Acids and harsh cleaning agents can cause damage.
Quartzite is a natural stone. It has many attractive properties that make it ideal for kitchen countertops and other work surfaces.
Wikipedia defines quartzite as: Quartzite is a hard, foliated metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone. This definition is very concise and doesn’t offer much explanation. The rest of the page in the reference link above explains more about quartzite in a scientific and technical way. In this discussion we will discuss some specific technical details, but we will also focus on the practical aspects of this interesting natural stone.
Quartzite is a very hard natural stone that exists due to intense heat and pressure acting on natural sandstone deep in the earth. These forces gradually transformed the sandstone into quartzite. As a result of this process, quartzite can take on various appearances. It will also have varying degrees of porosity and absorbency.
Another metamorphic rock, quartzite, forms when sandstone is subjected to extreme heat and pressure. Because of its texture and color, it is often mistaken for granite or even marble.
Quartzite is durable and heat resistant. Quartzite is one of the strongest materials and can withstand years of repeated use. With the right sealant and routine maintenance, quartzite counters can be very resistant to moisture. Quartzite, however, typically requires reapplying of the sealer every few years. However, once sufficiently sealed, quartzite is easy to clean. If you’re looking for a hard material with the look of marble, then this countertop is for you.
As with most other natural stones, there are many aspects to consider when considering quartzite countertops. If you’re looking for a detailed technical explanation of this natural stone, you’ll love “Looking Inside the Properties of Quartzite” by geologist Karin Kirk. In reality, however, quartzite is an excellent choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops because it has some useful and easy-to-see properties.
Quartzite usually comes in a lighter color, but can be any color. When sandstone is transformed into quartzite, it undergoes a “change” that alters its properties. The article cited above mentions “categories of sandstone and quartzite”. The above-mentioned quartzites are divided into the following 3 groups:
– Intermediate Quartzite: Intermediate quartzite has a mixture of grainy and crystalline appearances. These quartzites tend to be more porous than the next class of quartzites.
– Crystalline Quartzite: Crystalline quartzite has a glassy, crystalline appearance, with no grains visible even with a magnifying glass.
– Mixed Stone Quartzite: Mixed Stone Quartzite is exactly what it sounds like; quartzite mixed with other stone types. The color of this stone will be varied and varied.
As you can see, the porosity of the stone will vary, as will its appearance. This is perhaps one of the reasons for the increasing popularity of this material. It has the potential to appeal to different types of people. No wonder it is used quartzite countertops.
At first glance, it’s easy to notice the visual similarities between marble and quartzite. They all look very classy and stylish. Sometimes, the two stones can appear very close in color and even visual texture can appear similar. Both stones have a crystalline appearance when viewed closely. This is because the minerals that make up these rocks are actually crystalline. These stones are difficult to distinguish. So it’s a good idea to know how to tell the difference between the two.
Apart from visual appearance, marble and quartzite are similar in another way. They are all types of metamorphic rocks. A metamorphic rock is a rock that was originally another rock before it metamorphosed.
Although quartzite and marble look very similar and both formed through metamorphism, they are not the same material. They have different characteristics, now let us compare some of the differences between marble and quartzite.
As we mentioned above, marble and quartzite share some similar properties. But they also differ in some important ways. For example, quartzite is much harder than marble. Quartzite has a Mohs hardness of 7, far more than marble, which typically has a hardness of around 3. The reason for the difference in hardness is the minerals contained in each stone. In fact, many of the differences between these materials are due to their composition. We’ll see that later.
Now, it might be tempting to automatically assume that harder materials are inherently better. However, this is not necessarily the case. For some applications, softer stones are more feasible than harder materials. Also, hard materials can be more brittle and care may be required when cutting, drilling, or grinding the surface. Marble, for example, is a well-known material used by sculptors. One reason is that it is easy to shape and smooth. It is also a long-lasting and durable material.
The reason for these differences between marble and quartzite is mainly because they contain different materials. Quartzite is mainly composed of quartz, while marble is composed of calcite. In fact, calcite is what makes marble so easy to work, and quartz is what makes quartzite so hard.
Knowing the difference between quartzite and marble is useful because they look very similar. How can you tell if the rock you’re looking at is quartzite or marble? Is there a reliable way to tell the difference? Yes. You can determine whether a stone is marble or quartzite by using one or both of the following tests.
One way to tell the difference between a marble slab and a quartzite slab is to do a scratch test. Since the two materials have different hardnesses, using a stone to “scratch” a material that is harder than marble but softer than quartzite will reveal which stone you have. To perform a scratch test:
1. Take a glass block.
2. Place the glass on a flat surface.
3. Acquire a stone in question.
4. Use the sharp edge or tip of the stone to scratch the glass surface vigorously.
5. One of two things will happen, either the glass will scratch because the stone is harder, or the stone will shatter because the glass is harder.
6. If the glass has scratches, there is quartzite. If the stone breaks, you get marble.
If the material is polychromatic and consists of minerals of different colors, you may need to use multiple spots on the stone for this test.
Another test you can do to tell the difference between marble and quartzite is the acid test. The acid test works because the stones contain minerals. As mentioned earlier, marble is composed of calcite and quartzite is composed of quartz. It turns out that the calcite reacts with the acid and the stone “etches”. Quartz, on the other hand, does not react and does not etch. This means you can expose the stone to acid and see if a reaction occurs. To perform an etch test:
1. Use a slab with a small area that will be removed during formwork or test a piece of gravel.
2. On a portion of the polished surface, place a small amount of acidic liquid, such as lemon juice or vinegar.
3. Let the liquid sit on the surface for about 10-20 minutes.
4. If the liquid causes the surface of the stone to become dull or discolored, the stone is etched.
5. If the stone is etched by an acidic liquid, it is marble, no etching means you have quartzite.
As we have seen, both marble and quartzite are metamorphic rocks that look very similar. However, the minerals they contain cause a great deal of difference between them, which cannot be easily seen just by looking at them. Each stone has qualities required for a particular application, and knowing how to tell the difference can be an effective way to get the stone you want to use.
When you’re looking to remodel your home, there are certain materials you’ll gravitate toward for your countertops. Certain materials have stood the test of time and remain popular choices. There’s no denying that a brand new marble or quartzite countertop can add elegance and charm to your home. While these materials are both attractive and functional, it can be difficult to decide which one is perfect for your interior.
At Marble George, we can help. We have a wide range of materials to choose from in our newly refurbished showroom and have a friendly team of experts who can help you choose the ideal material for your home. For all other questions and information, or to purchase marble or quartzite, please contact us today! dream. design it. survive.
George Stone
Contact Us
