What is Quartzite?
- Quartzite starts as quartz-rich sandstone.
- Heat and pressure fuse the sand grains into a dense, hard quartz rock.
- It is quarried, sawn into slabs and polished or honed.
Quartzite is a natural metamorphic stone made mostly of quartz. Many varieties have the look of marble with much greater hardness.
Care tips
- Use pH-neutral stone cleaners
- Seal as recommended for your stone
- Wipe spills promptly
Pros
- Exceptional strength and hardness
- Marble-like veining
- Weathering durability expands its uses, including exterior
- Suits most stone applications
Cons
- Some stones sold as quartzite are softer; ask for testing
- Many varieties need sealing
- Hardness makes fabrication demanding
What do the experts say?
- NSI: Quartzite is a metamorphic rock formed from sandstone and can be of exceptional strength, density and hardness. [1]
- NKBA: Quartzite demonstrates excellent durability and gets even closer to mimicking marble-like color tones. [2]
LEED & green building
- Natural stone is listed by LEED v4.1 as an inherently non-emitting source of VOCs, so quartzite without integral organic-based coatings can count toward the Low-Emitting Materials credit (sealers are evaluated separately). [3]
- Points from credits like this add up toward LEED Certified (40–49), Silver (50–59), Gold (60–79) or Platinum (80+). [4]
- Natural Stone Institute – Sandstone and Quartzite
- NKBA – Four Questions to Ask When Choosing Natural Stone Kitchen Countertops
- USGBC – LEED v4.1 Building Design and Construction (EQ Low-Emitting Materials; MR Building Product Disclosure and Optimization)
- USGBC – LEED rating system (Certified 40–49, Silver 50–59, Gold 60–79, Platinum 80+ points)
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