More than half of the world is covered with numerous buildings and establishments. But the very unique thing that remains common yet different in each of them is the kind of stones and marble that are used in these buildings.
There are certain stones that are either naturally available in nature or are made artificially by us humans.
Quartz and Quartzite are two such stones that are widely used all across the world and hold utter importance when it comes to buildings and establishments.
In order to know them well, it is important that we mark a line of difference between these two so that a person can choose either of them according to his wants.
Key Takeaways
- Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen, while Quartzite is a metamorphic rock formed from sandstone under heat and pressure.
- Quartz is commonly used in jewellery, watches, and electronic devices, while Quartzite is used in construction as a decorative stone.
- Quartz is relatively softer than Quartzite and is rated seven on the Mohs hardness scale, while Quartzite is one of the hardest natural materials and is rated 7-8.
Quartz vs Quartzite
Quartz is a term that describes different sandstones that are manufactured and processed by humans, it is artificial, and it has very low heat resistance. Quartzites are different sandstones that were made naturally without any processing, and they have very high heat resistance.
Quartz is derived from the word Quart, which is a German word. Germans coined this term to describe something hard and cold, similar to ice.
This stone is created by combining particular oxygen atoms with silicon atoms, and because it is created by people, it comes in a range of colours and tones. It has less porosity as well as less heat resistance.
On the other hand, Quartzite happens to be another sandstone, but the thing that distinguishes it from its counterparts is that it exists in nature by itself, and hence there is no need for its manufacturing.
In natural course, it exists in either white or grey colour, but depending upon its heating circumstances, it can be found in other colours too. It is widely used as a natural sandstone, and many people prefer its natural texture over certain man-made stones.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Quartz | Quartzite |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | It is a variety of sandstones that humans manufacture. | It is a variety of sandstones that is available in nature itself. |
| Existence | It is a man-made material and an artificial substance. | It is a completely natural substance. |
| Porosity | This substance lacks porosity, meaning that water and air cannot make their way through it. | This substance happens to be high in porosity, which means that things like air and water can get through this material. This quality exists in this material because it is a natural one. |
| Heat resistance | This substance is comparatively less resistant to heat. | This substance is comparatively more resistant to heat. |
| Texture | It happens to have a unanimous texture because it is manufactured artificially. | It happens to have a distinct texture because it is made by nature. |
| Colour availability | It is available in any colour that the person desires. | Usually available in grey or white colour. |
What is Quartz?
The term has been derived from a word in the German language that is Quart. German people used this term to refer to something that was hard and cold, just like ice.
This term was given to this material because it looks like ice and feels very cold too.
This stone is manufactured after mixing certain atoms of oxygen with atoms of silicon, and because of is manufactured by humans, it happens to exist in a variety of colours and shades.
And this variety of this substance makes it very popular among customers. However, because it contains atoms of silicon and silica, this can be dangerous to some people who are involved in the mining and preparing of this stone.
Looking at the physical composition of this particular mineral, it lacks porosity, and thereby air and water cannot go through this stone. This quality makes it very durable in areas where there is heavy rainfall.
Apart from this heat resistance of this stone happens to be somewhat less than other counterparts of this stone.
What is Quartzite?
Quartzite is a distinguished variety of sandstones that comes into existence after the due process of metamorphism.
A unique feature of this stone is that it exists in multiple layers, which simply means that, looking at the stone, multiple layers can be noticed very easily.
This stone exists in nature by itself, and therefore there is no need to manufacture this by use of man-made equipment. In natural course, this stone carries a variety of textures because it is not manufactured by a particular machine but rather available in nature.
Talking about the colours of this particular stone, it is mostly found either in a white or grey shade, but depending on the other minerals attached, and it can be found in other colours such as red-yellow and pink as well.
It happens to be very heat resistant and contains porosity as well. Therefore, it happens to be very useful in places with changing weather conditions.
Main Differences Between Quartz and Quartzite
- Quartz is a variety of sandstones that humans manufacture. But on the other hand, Quartzite is a variety of sandstones that is available in nature itself.
- Quartz is a man-made material and an artificial substance. But on the contrary, Quartzite is a completely natural substance.
- Quartz is a material that lacks porosity, meaning that water and air cannot make their way through this substance. But Quartzite happens to be high in porosity, which means that things like air and water can get through this material. This quality exists in this material because it is a natural one.
- Quartzite is more heat resistant when compared to Quartz.
- Quartz has a unanimous texture, while quartzite has a very distinct texture.
References
- https://aip.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1063/1.1777192
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/449328
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The differences in colors depending on heating and the origins of these stones is an interesting fact.
The comparison table is very helpful in understanding the variations between quartz and quartzite.
This article does a great job of detailing the differences between quartz and quartzite. It’s informative and educational.
I agree, it’s important to understand these differences, especially when considering them for construction.
I appreciate how this article explains the nature of their existence as well as their physical and chemical composition.
Quartz and quartzite, while both stones, have different qualities, and are used in different applications.
It’s fascinating how the German language influenced the naming of quartz, and how the properties of the stones differ based on their natural or man-made origins.
The heat resistance and porosity differences between quartz and quartzite are important to consider when choosing materials for construction.
Understanding these differences can help consumers make more informed decisions about the materials used in their buildings and homes.
The unique origin of quartzite and its natural composition make it an intriguing option for construction materials.
Both stones have their own unique appeal, and this article provides valuable knowledge in distinguishing between them.