MARBLE, GRANITE, QUARTZ AND QUARTZITE?

Marble is a beautiful, natural substance that has been loved and used for years. Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to extreme heat and extreme pressure. Marble has a variety of appearances and colors, and is mined from caves and quarries. Durable and attractive, marble can stand up to the elements, and survive them while maintaining its look.

Granite is a naturally beautiful and incredibly durable stone. This stone is an igneous rock composed of mostly two minerals: quartz and feldspar. It is an intrusive rock, meaning that it crystallized from magma that cooled far below the Earth's surface. Its name is derived from the Latin word 'granum,' which means 'grain,' a reference to the easily-seen minerals in the rock. Granite can be used in many areas of the home and garden to create statement pieces and completely unique design elements, and granite care is fairly simple if performed properly.

Quartz is one of the most well-known minerals on earth. It occurs in basically all mineral environments, and is the important constituent of many rocks. Quartz is also the most varied of all minerals, occurring in all different forms, habits, and colors. Quartz has great economic importance. Many varieties are gemstones, including amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, and rose quartz. Sandstone, composed mainly of quartz, is an important building stone.

Quartzite is a light-colored, hard metamorphic rock, which forms from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone. Because quartz sandstone can come in a variety of lighter colors depending on its mineral content, quartzite can also come in a range of colors. Its color variations have led it to be a popular countertop material, and its durability makes it an excellent choice as a building or construction material. Quartzite can be found all over the world, but particularly in currently or formerly tectonically active regions where the proper metamorphic conditions exist for its formation.