S
TONECARE TECHNIQUESQUARTZITE
Quartzite is distinguished by its natural high quality
sparkling appearance and its shifting
aesthetics as the light
reflects from the variety of its mineral patterned surface.
GROUP |
Metamorphic | ||
COMMON ROCK-FORMING MINERAL GROUP |
Siliceous | ||
COMPOSITION |
Quartz being the most abundant mineral with a variety of other minerals. Its the metamorphic minerals that give this stone its distinct colors and appearance. | ||
HARDNESS |
Medium to Hard | MOHS' SCALE | 4 - 7 |
POROSITY % |
0.4 - 3.9 | ABSORPTION % | 0.1 - 1.4 |
WEATHERING |
Excellent | ||
TENDENCIES |
Absorbs oils | ||
COLORS |
A wide variety of colors from very light white to silver...medium to dark grays...light to dark gold's...soft greens to olive green...blues, etc. | ||
FINISHES |
Textured...Honed-Satin Finish...*Some varieties will take a good reflective polish. These are usually sold as a granite. | ||
NOTATIONS |
If this stone
is used where oils from foods will be present, it is recommended that the stone be treated with a oil repellent. **Geologically quartzite can be part of a continuous series of stones that grade into another type of stone.The divisional boundaries can involve hundreds of feet and are not clearly distinguishable and therefore become purely arbitrary. Quartzite can grade into a Mica Schist and if a quarry is in such a transitional zone this stone commercially may be represented and sold as a quartzite. Its appearance (texture/color) may be similar to a true quartzite, however, there will be a mineralogical deference and herein is were the weathering characteristics between these two stones defers. This transitional stone, in a wet/humid climate undergoes a mineralogical transformation that is progressive resulting in an overall color change to a dusty whitish color which is irreversible. This type of stone may also develop rust spots or whole tiles may change to a reddish rusty appearance. This stone is sometimes referred to as a "quartzite schist". Trade Terms |
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Quartzite is a metamorphic stone. It was at
one time a sandstone that has been structurally
altered by recrystallization.
It is important to find
out the performance characteristics of different varieties of stones
within a given classification
and not assume that all their characteristics are the same.