What are quartz countertops?

Before going to the quartz countertops, let’s start with quartz. Quartz is one of the most important minerals in rock composition. Almost all the rocks contain quartz. Based on the color the quartz can be named or classified into many types the synonyms are also based on the color. The chemical composition of quartz is SiO2 (silica: silicon dioxide) The quartz can be found in many looks they are called polymorphism, which are cristobalite, tridymite, coesite, and stishovite. The common property of quartz is the crystallographic system which is trigonal, occasionally pseudo-cubic.

Quartz can be found in many places and the main  genetic environments are;

• Felsic igneous rocks,
• Hydrothermal veins and base metal deposits,
• Metamorphic rocks,
• Sedimentary rocks

From where Quartz can be Mined?

So far there is no specific type of locality from where quartz can be identified.

The general properties of quartz

The quartz can stay in many associated minerals: they are native Bismuth, Calcite, Chlorite, Epidote, Feldspars, Fluorite, Micas, and Zeolites. Quartz sometimes can be difficult to identify because of the optical similarity with Coesite, Cristobalite, Lechatelierite, Melanophlogite, Melano- phlogopite-β, Moganite, Opal, Stishovite, and Tridymite. The dominant reflection of color is dark grey.

The Reflectance (%) of quartz is 5. The opacity/diaphaneity is transparent to nearly opaque.

The internal reflectance of quartz is almost clear, milky, and brilliant (anomalous interference colors). The common habit of quartz is large prismatic crystals (m-scale), massive. Quartz is a very hard mineral and for this reason, it can be used as a quartz countertop. The average hardness of quartz is 7.

Photo description; Quartz (transparent and multicolor internal reflections), native bismuth (dark brownish, many scratches)

The application of quartz is many. The quartz can be used as a gemstone or kitchen staff like quartz kitchen countertops (Photo from Pixabay.com). Quartz countertops are one of the rising design styles in the kitchen or in the home or shopping mall decoration. One of the best countertops is quartz kitchen countertops.

Let’s discuss the quartz countertops for your kitchen as an application of the quartz.

What is the quartz countertops’ step-by-step explanation?

Quartz countertops are engineered materials made of quartz mixing some other minerals in it and binding the particles by resins. The quality of quartz countertops depends on the percentage of resin added, 7% rasin makes higher quality, and more than 10% rasin makes low-quality of quartz countertops.

Quartz countertops are not made completely solid quartz because it is made by a mixture of some other small grain minerals in it like garnet, and other silicate minerals. But the amount of pure quartz is present of course only 10%. The quartz countertops is called engineered stone. It is made by the factory.

The first quartz countertops factory in the world:

All the countertops are initially started by the Breton company in 1963 with the trademark of Breton stone (R) and still they produce high-quality countertops.  The process involved blending pulverized natural stone aggregate with a mixture of other minerals and removing the air then heating and shaping the slabs that look like natural stone produced by the quartz countertops. Then Breton stone technology allows providing licenses to more than 50 companies around the world including the famous brands of Silestone, Cambria, and Caesarstone.

Quartz countertops are environmentally friendly:

After mining (quarrying) the natural stone from the mining some by-products are produced from the extracting process. This by-product of natural stones is used for countertops. No natural fresh stone is used in the quartz countertops manufacturing process. Hence it is called eco-friendly natural countertops.

Quartz is more durable and looks good and less porous enhances the room’s beauty as it has multiple colors in the design. Granite as countertops used in the kitchen is widely used. Quartz countertops play a good role in decoration and fashion.

The price for the quartz countertops is $15 to $70 per square foot on average. The granite countertops are $15 to $140 per square foot.