There are a few posts with comments regarding quartz (aka quartzite) counter tops in the kitchens forum.
I personally can't comment as I don't have mine picked or installed yet but just a suggestion to search at the bottom of the page for "quartz counter tops". I'm sure you'll have a few to read : )

I may be wrong but it's my understanding that quarts is an engineered, man made, counter top. Quartzite like granite, comes in slabs, and has a hardness factor higher than granite. I have white fantasy quartzite. It has been installed for about 3 months and so far it's bullet proof. It was sealed but even before with just a piece of it here I couldn't stain it with anything.

Several people on the forum have quartzite so put it in the search you should get some pictures, I know someone has blue but I have never seen brown. I bet it's pretty.

Thanks for the clarification partst........while searching for quartz counters a "specialty" counter store told me they were the same. Happy to hear the more info : )

Thanks for your input on your "white fantasy" quartzite. I did search the forum for quartzite and found some good info but i have not found anyone with "brown quartzite" which looks different than the others; it looks a lot like sandstone. I have read on other sites that quartzite stains more easily than granite even though it is "harder". I have a small piece of the brown quartzite slab and put lemon & wine vinegar and it did not do well in comparison to "Wild Sea" granite/quartzite. Neither were sealed so i don't know whether or not this is a fair test. The brown quartzite did seem pretty absorbent though - it held on to water stains for several minutes. I really like the 'smooth' appearance but i do not want a maintenance nightmare. Any other ideas to help me decide???