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Made from one of the hardest minerals on earth, quartz countertops are arguably the most Durable option for kitchens. They're also some of the most eye-catching. Their primary Ingredient is ground quartz (about 94 percent), combined with polyester resins to bind it and Pigments to give it color.
Sure, in most quartz countertops there is some quartz in there, but saying that quartz countertops are all quartz is like saying that all people look alike.
Fully 10 percent of the volume in a quartz countertop isn't stone at all, but rather a polymeric or cement-based binder. And the other 90 percent? Crushed up waste granite, marble, and natural stone or recycled industrial wastes such as ceramic, silica, glass, mirrors, etc. And yes, maybe some actual quartz—sometimes maybe a lot of it. All this rock material mixed together and held together with binders is what gives a so-called quartz countertop the look and feel of stone.
More accurately, a quartz countertop should probably be called engineered stone or compound stone—terms that more accurately describe the way these products are created.
Bottom line: quartz countertops may include greater or lesser quantities of actual quartz, but they include no solid quartz and likely have lots of other materials in them, as well.
Granite is an important structural and ornamental stone, and due to its high-compressive strength and durability, it is used for massive structural work. Fine-grained granite is employed for ornamental and monumental work as well as for inscription purposes. It is the hardest of structural stones. Its mineral-rich colors, the hardness and density, make it and ideal choice for flooring, countertops vanities as well as exterior applications. A broad range of elegant patterns and colors makes granite the most versatile and durable of all stones. It is also the most "maintenance free" of all stone
Granite is composed of quartz, feldspars and micas, as well as traces of a wide variety of other minerals. These minerals contribute to the color and texture of the various granites. Crystal size is somewhat determined by the rate at which the granite cools; the slower the cooling process, the larger the crystals grow. Faster cooling produces fine-grained granites. Granites get their wonderful variety of colors and patterns from minerals that are melted into the liquid mass as it is formed
Here is a comparison of quartz and quartzite that will help you decide which material is right for your bathroom or kitchen countertops project.
Appearance: It’s impossible to say that one material is more attractive than the other, since beauty is subjective for each of us. Quartzite is generally found in white to gray. Pink and red hues are a result of iron oxide in the stone.
Yellow, blue, green and orange quartzite results from the presence of other minerals. Regardless of the color, the quartzite will have streaking caused by varying degrees of pressure in its formation and the random presence of iron oxide or other minerals.
Quartz, because pigment can be added, is available in a much wider range of colors for you to consider. The way the countertop material is formulated gives it the appearance of natural stone such as granite or marble.
The bottom line in appearance is that if you want natural stone, quartzite is your choice. If you’d like a more diverse selection of colors and patterns to consider, you’ll find it in quartz.
Hardness and Durability: Quartzite is harder than granite, so it is quite durable. It withstands heat very well. Quartz is hard too, but not quite as hard as quartzite. The resin used in manufacturing quartz countertops is a plastic, so it is prone to melting in heat above 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where quartz has an advantage over quartzite is that it is less prone to denting and chipping because it is more flexible. Both countertop materials can be scratched by sharp objects, and a cutting board should be used.
Countertop Maintenance: Quartz requires very little maintenance. It wipes clean with a damp cloth. Abrasive cleaners should not be used on quartz, and they really aren’t needed. Ease of maintenance is the main advantage quartz countertops have over quartzite. In any event, as with all countertops, it is advisable to use cleaners designed for your type of surface.
All have Positive and Negative distinguishing features