What do you use quartzite for

There are instances when a particular block of a quartzite can have traces of calcium carbonate, which can be a cause of localized etching if that particular section comes in contact with anything acidic. Quartzite, even in this situation, will give you more time to clean up before it starts to etch. Need Assistance? Newsletter Signup Email Address:.

For anyone who loves the look of marble but who hates the thought of paying a premium for their countertops, quartzite can be a great alternative. Here's a good example of how a slab can naturally take on shades of brown. Marble chips and etches fairly easily, so you probably want to steer clear of these if performance is important to you. You might see these labeled as Super White or Gray Goose.

White Dallas seems to be a popular choice for those looking for something similar to Calacatta marble. The white stone has grey veins that really resemble marble, but the tough stone is far more durable than its marble counterpart. White Macaubas is another you may want to consider.

Macaubas looks a lot like Carrara marble but is resistant to scratches and chips. Another Carrara lookalike, White Princess, has soft grey veining against a soft white background. At just a four on the Hardness Scale, marble is pretty but nowhere near as durable.

You can test the hardness of the stone by bringing a glass tile to the stone yard with you. Quartzite is harder than glass so if you rub your tile on the edge of the slab you should be able to scratch the glass. Another thing you can do it test a sample to see if it will etch. Most stone yards will be happy to give you a small sample to take home. All you have to do is put a piece of lemon on it overnight.

They may sound a lot alike, but the truth is that they are very differen t materials altogether. Quartzite is a natural metamorphic stone formed when sand is heated and compressed within the earth.

Although it is very difficult to knap, some ancient people were able to knap it into knife blades and projectile points. The photo shows a quartzite arrowhead found in Alabama. If the arrowhead is turned under a bright light, the grains in the quartzite produce a sparkling luster. Quartzite has a diversity of uses in construction, manufacturing, architecture, and decorative arts. Although its properties are superior to many currently used materials, its consumption has always been low for various reasons.

The uses of quartzite and some reasons that it is avoided are summarized below. In architecture, marble and granite have been the favorite materials for thousands of years.

Quartzite, with a Mohs hardness of seven along with greater toughness, is superior to both in many uses. It stands up better to abrasion in stair treads, floor tiles, and countertops.

It is more resistant to most chemicals and environmental conditions. It is available in a range of neutral colors that many people enjoy. The use of quartzite in these uses is growing slowly as more people learn about it. There are also man-made materials marketed under the name quartzite. They can be attractive and durable with a cost comparable to natural materials. Read the marketing materials prepared by the manufacturer.

Quartzite can be an extremely durable crushed stone that is suitable for use in the most demanding applications. Its soundness and abrasion resistance are superior to most other materials. Unfortunately, the same durability that makes quartzite a superior construction material also limits its use. Its hardness and toughness cause heavy wear on crushers, screens, truck beds, cutting tools, loaders, tires, tracks, drill bits, and other equipment.

As a result, the use of quartzite is mainly limited to geographic areas where other aggregates are not available. Quartzite is valued as a raw material because of its high silica content. These are mined and used to manufacture glass, ferrosilicon, manganese ferrosilicon, silicon metal, silicon carbide, and other materials.

Quartzite can be a very attractive stone when it is colored by inclusions. Inclusions of fuchsite a green chromium-rich variety of muscovite mica can give quartzite a pleasing green color. If the quartzite is semitransparent to translucent, the flat flakes of mica can reflect light to produce a glittering luster known as aventurescence.

Material that displays this property is known as " aventurine ," a popular material used to produce beads, cabochons, tumbled stones , and small ornaments. Aventurine can be pink or red when stained with iron. Included dumortierite produces a blue color. Other inclusions produce white, gray, orange, or yellow aventurine.

Quartzite has been used by humans to make stone tools for over one million years. It was mainly used for impact tools, but its conchoidal fracture allowed it to be broken to form sharp edges. Broken pieces of quartzite were used for crude cutting and chopping tools. Quartzite was not the preferred material for producing cutting tools such as knife blades and projectile points - but it has been used.

Helmenstine holds a Ph. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter. Updated March 25, Key Takeaways: Quartzite Rock Quartzite is a hard, nonfoliated metamorphic rock formed by the action of heat and pressure upon sandstone. Usually, the rock is white or gray, but it occurs in other pale colors. It has a grainy, rough surface. Magnification reveals a mosaic of quartz crystals. Pure quartzite consists entirely of silicon dioxide, but usually iron oxide and trace minerals are present.

Quartzite occurs in folded mountain ranges at convergent plate boundaries worldwide. Featured Video. Cite this Article Format.

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