Quartzite (Stacked Stone Veneer)

Mohs hardness of 7, vitreous to dull luster, granoblastic texture, colors ranging from grey and beige to white, composed mainly of quartz crystals, durable and weather-resistant.

Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, recrystallizing quartz grains into a tightly interlocking mosaic network.

Extensively used as decorative building stone, fireplace surrounds, split-face wall cladding, exterior veneer, and landscaping tiles.

Quartzite is extremely tough and resistant to chemical weathering. When sandstone metamorphoses into quartzite, individual quartz grains recrystallize along with former cementing material to form an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals.

Look for a grainy, sugar-like or crystalline texture that cannot be easily scratched by steel (unlike limestone or marble). Commonly quarried worldwide in regions with ancient metamorphic belts.