Shaina.. White Macaubas is a true Quartzite not a granite. True Quartzite is higher on the mohl's scale of hardness then granite. It will not etch like Marble, but has a marble like appearance. Quartzite gets a bad name due to companies mislabeling marbles, dolomites and sandstone. True Quartzite is very dense and many are not prone to staining. NO true Quartzite will etch. Not a one. Granite and Quartzite have completely different make-ups. Quartzite is a metamorphic stone.. Sandstone converts to Quartzite from extreme heat and pressure. Granite is an igneous rock also formed from extreme heat and pressure. I personally see dolomite and dense sandstones misrepresented as Quartzite more then any other material. I do have a lot of experience with these stones because I own a Granite, Quartz and Quartzite company. We sell stone, fabricate and install countertops so we're there every step of the way which keeps me up to date on pretty much every stone that is used today. I always keep at least 100 bundles of stone in stock that I personally hand pick so I purchase thousands of slabs a year. I am very picky with the stones I purchase. I put any Quartzite that I have not carried before through vigorous testing before I sell it to my customers as a Quartzite. I'd say I send back at least 20 bundles a year that are not true Quartzites even though they are passed off to me as such. I DEFINITELY reccomend reading reviews for fabricators before choosing who you'll use . Also, try calling high end custom home builders in the area and ask who they use. Then ask the fabricator about the stone you are considering if it's purchased from a separate slab yard. If they are not able to confirm to you what material it is, then look elsewhere for your countertop fabrication. I personally feel a reputable stone supplier and fabricator will educate you in mineral composition, stone formation, and inform you how and where the stones are quarried. The chemical composition of natural stones will affect their performance in your home so it's important you have this information. I personally love Quartzite. I have it in my home. The main thing to worry about when it comes to Quartzite is if it is actually a true Quartzite. I will mention some Quartzites have a higher level of porosity and should be sealed regularly. The least porous Quartzites are actually called crystalline Quartzites. They have been through such an immense amount of heat and pressure during formation that all the sand grains have become crystals of Quartz. Taj Mahal is an example of a crystalline Quartzite. Some Quartzites are more grainy which make them more porous. Any reputable stone dealer and fabricator should be able to tell you which are grainy Quartzites and which are Crystalline. This only matters for porosity not hardness. I know I've gone on for a while. I hope some of this information is helpful. :)
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Trimming the bluestone
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