Another problem is that a lot of stones sold as "quartzites" are essentially marbles, so they will weather and age (and possibly stain and patina) like marbles will, sealant or not.

Specific types of quartzite are uber durable - Taj Mahal, Madre Perla etc - you have to do your research and make sure you know what to buy and also make sure the slabs you’re buying are correctly labeled -

we’ve had Madre Perla for 12+ years - never sealed it, still looks new (my fabricator had never heard of it back then so I paid the same install price as granite, he joked that he would never do that again)

Quartz is 33% plastic by volume, the weight percentages sales guys spout are worthless. Test anything labelled quartzite with a glass tile scratch test and a lemon juice acid test. It's a natural stone. You personally should figure out the layout for the cuts and seams. Or require your OK. And you should inspect the product before it leaves the shop. Quartzite is very hard and uses up diamond cutting tools faster. Inspect cuts for chips from dull cutting tools. If you want a leathered finish, it should already be that way from the manufacturer.

"Test anything labelled quartzite with a glass tile scratch test and a lemon juice acid test."

Excellent advice, however a porosity test is essential unless you'd like to join the catastrophy club here.

https://usenaturalstone.org/how-to-be-your-own-stone-sleuth/

Not all quartzite is the same, specially the "white" or light gray ones, which are prone to be mislabeled and are really marble or dolomite. Hardness alone does not make it a quartzite.

I've had Taj Mahal quartzite counters in 2 kitchens, a fireplace surround and an outdoor kitchen counter & backsplash. The Taj Mahal slab backsplash behind the outdoor grill gets covered in grease and soot. I clean it every few months and all the grease/soot comes off with regular cleaning products. The only issue is that the pieces used outside were remnants and had a bit more filler/epoxy than I would have liked. That will be the weak point with the high heat exposure, but it has held up so far without any issues, after 2 years of use.

I have quartz counters in my bathrooms and laundry room and have been very happy with those too.

Your material selections should fit the monetary level of your home.

It doesn't make sense to take a standard tract home in suburbia and place quartzite counters in the kitchen. It's a waste of money.

Good design can be accomplished with modest materials. Do not discount using Corian & plastic laminate. No one should be a slave to the materials they select for a kitchen.

If you are looking for something all white - I would look at Corian. I had a Corian top once and loved it! I currently have a quartz top ( Silestone ) for 20 years. I only have 1 chip and no other issues. I have never had quartzite - only read a lot of scary stories and a bunch of good stories ( most mentioning Taj Mahal ) .

Good luck!

^Another vote for Corian, we are building a vacation home this next year and I want something super simple and will be doing white Corian

Wow! I appreciate all of your comments and input. Thank you so much for taking the time to help I truly appreciate it.

Basically they all have pros and cons...we love our white quartz with subtle veining. I think the trick is to find one that is subtle, some of them are way overdone and fake looking. Go to a place where you can see the whole slab in person. The quartzite I saw was gorgeous but most were too busy for the look we were going for. That's just personal preference. Quartz is not totally heat proof so that's a consideration. We have translucent silicone pads around for hot pans. It is very stain resistant.

“I think the trick is to find one that is subtle, some of them are way overdone and fake looking.”

All quartz trying to mimic marble, fails miserably. They all look fake…even the ”subtle” ones. Actual marble has a chrystalized depth and beauty, that plastic resin filled quartz cannot duplicate. Period.

You're entitled to your opinion, love the look of marble more certainly but it's not practical in our home. I searched far and wide and there's a lot of ugly quartz out there but you can find some attractive ones. In my opinion any way.

I can appreciate all the materials available for counters ... they meet the many different needs/wants of homeowners. No need to put down a material you don't like.

Over the years I have used quartzite, granite, limestone, quartz and corian for counters. They all have their pros and cons, but design wise, one isn't better than the other, just a different design choice.

We know nothing regarding the rest of your kitchen - Cabinet paint or stain, flooring, etc

There's a pro or con for every material but Corian ( the original Dupont ) has a bunch of plain whites. Designer White, Cameo White, and more.

It seams invisibly, lasts years and years and fine scratches 20 years later can be buffed out.

It only fell from favor when the dark spotty granites emerged in the nineties. I have Cameo White and love it. Kitchen and bath.

Here's some solid surface options. Clearance - Sales | SolidSurface.com If you aren't attracted to marble-look quartz.