Quartzite is a hard, metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts, the original quartz sand grains and quartz silica cement were fused into one.
Pure quartzite is usually white to grey. Differing mineral content creates many color variations, from the sedate white, gray or beige to more adventurous shades of purple and pink, due to varying amounts of iron oxide. Other colors are due to impurities of minor amounts of other minerals.
Orthoquartzite is a very pure quartz sandstone composed of usually well rounded quartz grains cemented by silica. Orthoquartzite is often 99% SiO2 with only very minor amounts of iron oxide and trace resistant minerals such as zircon, rutile and magnetite. Although few fossils are normally present the original texture and sedimentary structures are preserved.
In true metamorphic quartzite, also called meta-quartzite, the individual quartz grains have recrystalized along with the former cementing material to form an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals. Minor amounts of former cementing materials, iron oxide, carbonate and clay, are often recrystalized and have migrated under the pressure to form streaks and lenses within the quartzite. Virtually all original textures and structure have usually been erased by the metamorphism.
Quartzite is very resistant to chemical weathering and often forms ridges and resistant hilltops. The nearly pure silica content of the rock provides little to form soil from and therefor the quartzite ridges are often bare or covered only with a very thin soil and little vegetation.
Note:
*Our collection of Flagstone includes Slate, Quartzite, Sandstone and Limestone, please refer to related page for other Flagstone selection.
*Each stone type has it's own unique density, thus the coverage varies for A Ton of different stones. Please refer to the chart below for coverage:
Copper: 170 - 190 Square Feet / Ton
Gold Green: 170 - 190 Square Feet / Ton
Golden White: 150 - 180 Square Feet / Ton
Ostrich Grey: 170 - 190 Square Feet / Ton
VKD: 170 - 190 Square Feet / Ton
Slate Flagstone$550.00
Limestone Flagstone$575.00
Sandstone Flagstone$550.00
Quartzite Tile 12"x12"$3.00
Quartzite Tile 16"x16"$5.87
Quartzite Tile 24"x24"$20.80
Sandstone Tile 12"x12"$3.00
Sandstone Tile 24"x24"$16.00
Sandstone Tile 16"x16"$5.78
Slate Tile 12"x12"$1.99
Slate Tile 16"x16"$3.82
Slate Tile 18"x18"$6.19
Slate Tile 24"x24"$14.00
