It can be very easy to conflate quartz and quartzite. Not only do they have very similar names, but they’re also made of very similar materials, and there’s a great deal of confusion about the differences.
Unlike a “Seattle quartz countertop,” which is a mixture of approximately 93 percent ground quartz, resin, and pigments, quartzite isn’t manufactured stone. Quartzite is a naturally occurring metamorphic rock. It comes from sandstone, and, like marble or granite, it is the product of tectonic heat and pressure, and is mined from the earth in solid slabs that the manufacturer later cuts.
Because quartzite isn’t created from a composite of heated and poured materials, one has fewer options in terms of color and pattern. With quartz, you can adjust the style of the pour or pigmentation to create a vast array of colors and textures; with quartzite, you will only be able to get what’s produced by the earth. Luckily, the options are many, and typically gorgeous. Many people prize the variation and irregularities that can only come with a piece of stone created entirely by nature, and quartzite has those traits in spades. Waves of veining, spots of color, and natural variation that humans could never replicate are all features that make quartzite so appealing.
Despite their different composition, quartzite and quartz are both tough, enduring materials. Quartzite rates even higher than granite on Moh’s scale of hardness. If you want a countertop in a high-traffic kitchen where it will see a great deal of action from pots, pans, knives, and ingredients, quartzite is perfect. However, unlike quartz, quartzite requires maintenance and should be sealed every 6 months to 2 years to prevent etching or staining.