Stones buying guideLast updated October 2026

Quartzite

The look of marble with the toughness of granite.

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Price level
Luxury
Best to buy
May–Oct
Top sources
Brazil flagIndia flagNorway flag
Polished quartzite slab with white and grey linear veining

Photo: Stilfehler, CC BY-SA 4.0

Overview

What is quartzite?

Natural quartzite is sandstone that metamorphism has fused into almost solid quartz. It offers the soft veins, milky whites, blues and golds of marble with hardness closer to granite, which has made it one of the most sought-after materials in premium kitchens.

Beware the naming mess. Some stones sold as "soft quartzite", including certain Super White and Fantasy Brown lots, are really dolomitic marble and will etch. Real quartzite scratches glass and doesn't react to lemon juice. Test a sample before you commit.

Don't confuse it with engineered "quartz", a manufactured slab of crushed quartz bound in resin. Quartzite is 100% natural stone.

Rock type
Metamorphic (quartz sandstone)
Hardness
About 7 Mohs (true quartzite)
Water absorption
≤ 1% (ASTM C616 Type III)
Acid
Resists etching
Fabrication
Hard to cut: slower and costlier
Slabs
20 and 30 mm, often mesh or resin backed

Applications

Best used for

  • Kitchen countertopsMarble looks without the etching. The top reason people choose it.
  • Islands and waterfall edgesLarge slabs with flowing veins suit bookmatched waterfalls.
  • Backlit featuresTranslucent varieties such as Cristallo glow when lit from behind.
  • Bathrooms and wet areasDense and stable in contact with water.
  • ExteriorsDense quartzites weather extremely well.

Think twice for

  • Tight budgets. Stone and fabrication both cost more than granite; hard quartzite wears tools quickly.
  • Unverified "quartzite". If it etches, it's marble. Test before you sign.

Know the names

Popular varieties

  • Taj Mahal

    Brazil

    Creamy with soft golden veins. The bestseller.

  • White Macaubas

    Brazil

    White with linear grey veins.

  • Azul Macaubas

    Brazil

    Vivid natural blue. One of the rarest stones.

  • Cristallo

    Brazil

    Translucent and crystalline; backlightable.

  • Patagonia

    Brazil

    Cream with dramatic dark crystals.

  • Mont Blanc

    Brazil

    White-grey with soft, marble-like veins.

  • Oppdal

    Norway

    Grey-green layered stone for floors and façades.

Origins

Which countries to source from

The producing countries that matter for quartzite, what each is known for, and a direct link to vendors there.
  • Brazil flag

    Brazil Leading source

    The quartzite capital of the world

    • Taj Mahal
    • White and Azul Macaubas (Bahia)
    • Cristallo, Patagonia, Mont Blanc
    • Espírito Santo processing hub
    Vendors in Brazil
  • India flag

    India

    Value quartzite tiles and cladding

    • Himalayan and Rajasthan quartzites
    • Split-face wall cladding
    Vendors in India
  • Norway flag

    Norway

    Layered quartzites for floors and façades

    • Oppdal
    • Alta
    Vendors in Norway

Timing

Best time of year to buy

Most premium quartzite comes from Brazil. Buy block and slab lots between May and October, when quarries in Bahia and Minas Gerais run flat out.

  1. Jan: slower or pricier
  2. Feb: slower or pricier
  3. Mar: slower or pricier
  4. Apr: normal
  5. May: best time to buy
  6. Jun: best time to buy
  7. Jul: best time to buy
  8. Aug: best time to buy
  9. Sep: best time to buy
  10. Oct: best time to buy
  11. Nov: normal
  12. Dec: slower or pricier
Best time to buy Normal Slower or pricier
  • Brazil's rainy season (roughly November to March) slows extraction and trucking from remote quarries.
  • Carnival (February or March) shuts much of the trade for a week.
  • Exotic lots sell out fast. Reserve a block or bundle with a deposit as soon as you approve photos.
  • Marmomac Brazil in São Paulo (March) and Marmomac in Verona (September) are where new blocks debut.

Import costs

Tariffs and import duties

Base duties for the main import markets, the extra US surcharge by origin, and the trade remedies to check before you quote a landed price.

HS codes

  • 2506.20Quartzite, crude or roughly cut
  • 6802.99Worked quartzite (slabs, tiles, tops)

Base import duty (MFN)

  • United StatesFree to 6.5%Blocks free; worked quartzite is "other stone" at 6.5%, higher than marble or granite.
  • European Union0% to 1.7%Polished quartzite duty-free; other worked pieces 1.7%.
  • United Kingdom0%

Importing into the US? Add the 2026 origin surcharge

Section 301 rates in force since 24 July 2026, stacked on the MFN rate above.

  • Brazil flagBrazil+37.5% & 30137.5% Section 301 (2026) plus the legacy China Section 301 duty (25% on most stone and machinery lines), on top of MFN.
  • India flagIndia+10%Section 301 (2026) adds 10% on top of the MFN rate.
  • Norway flagNorway+12.5%Section 301 (2026) adds 12.5% on top of the MFN rate.
  • Since July 24 2026, a 12.5% Section 301 surcharge applies to many countries including Brazil for quartzite imports to the US, in addition to the 6.5% MFN rate.

Rates checked October 2026. Indicative rates for planning, not a customs ruling. Duties depend on the exact tariff line, origin, trade agreements and the rules in force on the day of entry. Confirm with a licensed customs broker before you price an order.

Before you order

Buying checklist

  1. 1Run the glass-scratch and lemon tests on a sample. Dolomitic "quartzites" etch.
  2. 2Expect mesh and resin on fragile varieties like Cristallo and Patagonia. Ask to see the back.
  3. 3Budget for fabrication: hard quartzite needs premium blades and slower feed rates.
  4. 4Reserve full sequences for bookmatched islands. Premium lots sell out fast.
  5. 5Seal once after fabrication; many quartzites are more porous than they look.

Price level: Premium Brazilian quartzites sit at the top of the market; Indian and Norwegian quartzites are mid-priced.

Vendor Network

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