Quartzite vs Granite
People are confused between granite quartzite quartz. They think it’s the same material. It is not true.
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock formed from sandstone. But granite is an igneous rock, which means that it has crystallized and solidified from lavas molten state. Both granite and Quartzsite are natural stones, but quartzite is a much harder stone. Quartzite is an extremely hard rock that is not water or acid-soluble. On the other hand, quartz is not a natural stone; it is a man-made material.
Quartzite in its’ purest form is white like marble, but it can have impurities and it leads to some incredible patterns and colors. For some people, it’s the only surface that they would ever consider due to its incredible beauty and strength. As a matter of fact, this material is considered a luxury high-end choice for countertop selection. Know the differences between Quartzite and Granite
What is Quartzite?
Quartzite Purposes
Originally pure quartz sandstone, Quartzite (from German Quarzit) is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock. Through heating and pressure, sandstone converts into quartzite. This is 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 mineral impurities.
When sandstone cements to quartzite, the individual quartz grains recrystallize. Also, the former cementing material forms an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals. Metamorphism erases the sandstone’s original texture and sedimentary structures. The grainy, sandpaper-like surface becomes glassy in appearance. Minor amounts of former cementing materials, iron oxide, silica, carbonate and clay, often migrate during recrystallization and metamorphosis. This causes streaks and lenses to form within the quartzite.
So these are the main differences between granite quartzite quartz.
