Quartz and quartzite are two separate and distinct materials you will find in Bedrock Quartz showrooms. People confuse them all the time, and that’s okay. We see the confusion manifest itself when talking about colors. Manufacturers determine quartz color. On the other hand, nature provides the color variation found in quartzite countertops.
Nature Makes Quartzite Over Time
Where quartz is a manufactured product, quartzite is a natural stone. It is a product of nature in all its glory. Moreover, how nature makes quartzite plays directly into its color. Let us take a look in a bit more detail.
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that starts as quartz and sandstone combined. Nature creates an initial sediment through the accumulation of quartz grains. Under the right conditions, the sediment becomes quartz-rich sandstone. Then time does its thing.
Over millions of years, the weight of the sediment on top of the quartzite-rich sandstone has a compacting effect. The longer the material is compacted, the more tightly quartz grains are packed and aligned. Meanwhile, ground water and other silica-rich fluids make their way through the sandstone, depositing silica cement as they go.
The silica cement acts as a binder for the quartz grains. Then, as the sandstone is subjected to heat and pressure, the quartz grains within recrystallize and become tightly inter-grown. Recrystallization is a process of dissolving and reciprocating that often leads to more uniform crystals. The crystals tend to grow larger with each cycle.
Over time, the quartz crystals continue to grow and coalesce to create a dense and compact aggregate. The end result is the natural stone we know as quartzite. The material is about 90% quartz and 10% sandstone and other materials.
Where the Color Comes From
The particular colors found in a slab of quartzite are a combination of the initial sediment and how the quartz grains recrystallize during metamorphosis. Darker sentiments produced darker stones. Meanwhile, recrystallization can lead to a variety of colors in quartzite veining.
Typical color combinations for quartzite include:
- White – White quartzite is an extremely popular choice in Utah. Varying shades of white are available, most featuring gray veining.
- Gray – Gray is another popular choice among Utah homeowners. Shades of gray can range from light and silvery to a deep charcoal color.
- Beige – Beige quartzite can be creamy and subtle or slightly darker and warm. Gold veining is pretty common throughout, as is gray.
- Green – Green quartzite is less common but no less stunning. Quartzite varieties can boast a deep forest green or a more bold emerald green. We have even seen slabs featuring a subtle, minty green with dark veining.
- Blue – Blue quartzite is very rare. If you can get your hands on it, it offers a unique look unmatched by any other material. Blue quartzite tends to offer subtle blue and gray hues along with contrasting veining.
- Black – Black quartzite offers plenty of modern appeal. It is sleek, dramatic, and eye-catching. Shades of black can range from extremely dark to a charcoal-gray color. White, gold, and gray veining are normal.
There are a few other colors that are as equally rare as green in blue. They include pink, purple, and orange. Just know that rarity equals a higher price tag.
Designers may be responsible for giving quartz its color name, but quartzite colors are the work of nature. By combining sediment, quartz grains, time, and the effects of heat and pressure, nature can produce some incredibly beautiful quartzite slabs.
If you would like to see for yourself, visit one of our Utah showrooms. We can’t wait to show you just how beautiful quartzite is.
