Found in all three types of stone: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic

• Used to form granite, terrazzo, quartzite​

Can be translucent, transparent, or opaque

Extremely durable

Comes in a variety of colors such as clear, white, purple, pink, brown, or grey

More commonly used is Engineered Quartz

• Made of resin binder and 93% pulverized quartz​

• It is more uniform, less porous, strong, and does not stain

• Scratch and heat resistant

• One of the most durable countertops and does not need to be sealed

• Cons: resin (loses flexibility over time and is not UV resistant so it is less heat resistant than actual stone

Quartz comes from a rock which is quarried, extracted, drilled, and cut into stone blocks or slabs, which are further cut into desired pieces

• Must consider the direction of colors, fissures and pattern for the desired look of a slab​

Durable--practically no maintenance

Quartz, like granite, can be unsealed

Can be polished

• Easy to clean, but slick when wet

Can be flamed

• Non-slip, but hard to clean​

Use soap and water to clean, and rubbing alcohol to disinfect

Do not use acidic or abrasive cleaners

Low embodied energy

Fire resistant and heat insulating (solar heat retention)

Occasional break under stress

• Replacement if breakage occurs, otherwise quartz has a long life cycle​

After quarried, soil can fill the space to ensure land is maintained for animal and plant life

Does not give off any gases, pollutants, or toxic chemicals

Less sustainable when using mortar because of the absorption of carbon dioxide

Can be used to produce granite, terrazzo, and quartzite