Read this link, page down it a bit for instructions about the glass test and etching test for quartzite.

Yours does look marble-like, but it’s impossible to tell over the internet, so the tests on this link should give you a definitive answer. Your counter is beautiful in any case.

https://usenaturalstone.org/definitive-guide-quartzite/

Thanks for the reply. The glass test is inconclusive since I can’t find a sharp edge but I took the piece that has been drilled out for the faucet and I poured some lime juice( no lemon available) and let it sit for 15min. but nothing’s changed. It’s a good sign right? :)

You might have missed this part. Find an inconspicuous spot on your stone:

Do you know where it is from? There are article online that say if it is from Africa , it is marble and if its from Brazil , it is quartzite.

Unfortunately there is no industry standard for naming stones, so it becomes very confusing for customers to truly know what they are buying!

Lemon juice may not be conclusive. if it's a dolomite, you won't see the etching right away. (the way to tell is to see if it bubbles w/carbon dioxide or something. i'm no scientist!)

you have any Hydrochloric Acid handy?

The best way to tell one from the other is the acid test: a drop of 1 M on calcite produces an instant, obvious fizz; a drop on dolomite produces slow or no obvious bubbling. Frequently, you have to use a knife point to powder a small area of dolomite to get a visible reaction to a drop of acid.

the slab you got may be from Africa and not Brazil? that;s what I've read.

I've also read that the one you have resembles marble moreso than the Brazil mont blanc, which looks like this.

I'm going to guess that you have a Dolomite (marble's first cousin. Marble is Calcite) Same as Super White. I've had Super White for 4 years now and it's held up pretty good. Keep yours sealed, use trivets and cutting boards, wipe up spills sooner than later.

Take a glass tile, break it so that you have a sharp edge, and try it on the surface. a knife blade could be misleading. (what if it's forged steel or something?) We know for sure that glass is harder than marble, but softer than quartzite.

MontBlanc does have a reputation for staining, so I'd be more concerned w/that.

read this post

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5692583/help-mont-blanc-vs-monte-blanc-are-either-real-quartzite

Stoneyards should do this to assure customers what they are getting. This is that HCI test. I don't expect you to have to do this, but I would expect a stone yard that is selling and mislabeling these slabs do so!

Quick and simple field techniques are described for determining and distinguishing the carbonate mineral's calcite and dolomite. A further procedure for determiningt he presence of phosphate is also described. All of these field staining procedures can bemodified for, or have been adapted from techniques used in the laboratory.

The methods are described below:

6.2. CARBONATE (CALCITE AND DOLOMITE) DETERMINATION

Dolomite (Mann 1955)

1. On a clean rock surface add a few drops of dilute (10%) hydrochloric acid HCI to etch the surface. This releases the Ca and Mg ions into solution. Continue with the procedure even if no reaction is visible (i.e. high Mg content). The etching stage may help separate a pure dolomite from a limestone (but not a low Mg limestone, MgO <10%).
2. When any vigorous reaction has ceased, add a drop of alkaline solution (0.OO2g p-Nitrobenzene-azoresourcinol in 100m1 of 2N sodium hydroxide).
3. Within the first minute of adding the solution observe the results of

any reaction.

RESULTS

HIGH-Mg CALCITE

Blue precipitate is evident (indicates a carbonate high in available MgO). The intensity of the blue colour will decrease with MgO content.

LOW-Mg CALCITE DOLOMITE

Violet colour indicates a carbonate with no MgO.

DOLOMITE
Yellow colour (seen when no reaction occurs after etching and alkali solution is applied).

As a blue coloration will be evident on evaporation of the alkali solution, observations must be noted within the first minute of application. Shield the test area from direct sunlight while undertaking this technique to avoid the loss of staining solution through evaporation, and detect light colour hues of the precipitates.