Never Knew! Quartzite or Quartz? What's the Difference?

We bought our home because of the floor plan and knew we'd have to change out the kitchen tile...even though it's still in good condition....to a different counter eventually. Seven years later, we still haven't done it!

But, I keep an eye on all counter tops while showing homes. New and Re-sale homes of course.

Houzz article caught my attention this morning about two different types of materials that many people interchange the names without even realizing there is a difference.

I'm still not sure which one we would use! I'm leaning towards the man-made Quartz though....

Quartzite is a natural stone that is extracted from the earth, 

just as marble, limestone or soapstone are quarried.

Quartz, or engineered quartz, is man-made. It’s composed of roughly 90 percent ground quartz (the actual mineral), with the remaining 10 percent being a mixed cocktail of resins, polymers and pigments that varies by manufacturer.

Variation vs. Uniformity

Because quartzite comes directly from Mother Nature, it displays infinite variation in color and pattern, meaning no two slabs are exactly the same.Meanwhile, quartz attempts to replicate those distinct characteristics, such as veining. Technology is always advancing, and engineered materials are getting harder to distinguish from the real deal. But because quartz is produced in a controlled manner on a large scale, at some point patterns emerge and repetition happens.

Heat Resistance vs. Stain Resistance

In addition to hardness, most people are concerned with whether a stone will resist heat and staining over time, especially if you’re talking about an enthusiastic entertainer or a bustling family with young children.

Quartzite wins in terms of heat resistance, making it a prime candidate for kitchens. (No worries if you happen to set that hot pan down for a moment on the counter next to your stove. 

On the other hand, the density of quartz makes it more able to combat stains than its fully organic counterpart. Which means you can opt for solid white quartz in the kitchen and won’t need to fret over any of those inevitable messes and spills.

Differences Between Quartz and Quartzite

Quartz 

• Pros: Durable; can come in solid colors for a more uniform look; very stain resistant; not prone to etching
• Cons: Because it’s an engineered product, sometimes pattern repetition occurs; not as heat resistant or scratch resistant as quartzite

Quartzite 

• Pros: Durable; because it’s a natural stone, there is infinite variation in color and pattern (no two slabs are the same); very heat resistant; not prone to etching; more scratch resistant than quartz
• Cons: Not as stain resistant as quartz