How much does Quartzite cost?

Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock composed almost entirely of recrystallized quartz (SiO₂), formed when sandstone is altered by heat and pressure. Quartzite forms when sandstone is metamorphosed by heat and pressure. The original sand grains (which were individual quartz crystals) recrystallize and fuse together, creating an interlocking mosaic of quartz that is far harder and more durable than the original sandstone.

The transformation is dramatic. Sandstone breaks around its grains (you can see individual sand grains on broken surfaces). Quartzite breaks through its grains, producing a smooth, conchoidal fracture because the grain boundaries have been obliterated by recrystallization.

Pure quartzite is white. Pink quartzite (like South Dakota's Sioux Quartzite) contains iron oxide. Green quartzite may contain fuchsite mica. Quartzite is one of the most durable natural materials available, resisting weathering, heat, and chemicals. It's increasingly popular as a countertop material, marketed as a premium alternative to granite.

Identification Guide

Quartzite is identified by its extreme hardness (Mohs 7, scratches steel and glass), granular texture of fused quartz grains, conchoidal fracture (breaks through grains, not around them), and lack of acid reaction.

Distinguish from marble (softer, effervesces in acid), sandstone (softer, breaks around grains, gritty feel), and granite (contains visible feldspar and mica in addition to quartz).

Spotting Fakes

In the countertop industry, some 'quartzite' is actually dolomite marble or other softer stone that won't hold up as well. True quartzite should scratch glass easily and not react with acid. The term 'soft quartzite' is sometimes used for dolomite marble, which is misleading. If you can scratch it with a knife, it's not quartzite.

Some links in this post go to Amazon. Crystal Almanac earns a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Tools recommended here are ones we would use ourselves to run the tests described - the recommendation comes first, the link is downstream of it.

Verify Quartzite Before You Buy

Affiliate picks

Quartzite gets imitated with glass, dyed stand-ins, and cheaper lookalikes. These four tools run the checks in the Spotting Fakes section above, so you can tell real from fake before you pay - online, at a show, or in a shop.

10x triplet jeweler's loupe$20-40
The first tool worth owning. Round gas bubbles (glass), dye pooled in cracks (dyed howlite, magnesite, agate), and flow lines are invisible to the naked eye and obvious at 10x. A triplet lens keeps the edges sharp.
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Mohs hardness pick set~$40
Calibrated picks settle the cheap swaps in seconds - howlite (3.5) sold as turquoise (5-6), glass (5.5) sold as quartz (7). Faster and more accurate than the fingernail-and-knife method.
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0.01g digital pocket scale~$15
Density catches what the eye misses. A glass 'quartz' weighs suspiciously light; lead-loaded plastic 'lapis' weighs suspiciously heavy. Weigh, compare to the known density, and flag the mismatch before the money leaves your hand.
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365nm UV flashlight$20-30
Many stones have a distinctive fluorescence (hyalite opal, fluorite, ruby, scheelite). A longwave UV light is the fastest tiebreaker when a piece passes the other tests but still looks off.
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Cultural & Metaphysical Traditions

Presented as cultural traditions, not scientific evidence

Quartzite is associated with endurance, determination, and the transformation of something ordinary into something extraordinary. The metamorphic journey from loose sand to fused stone mirrors themes of personal growth through pressure. Practitioners use it for persistence and long-term goal setting.

Metaphysical and “healing” associations are cultural traditions, not medical advice or scientific fact. Crystals are not a substitute for professional medical care.

ChakraCrown ZodiacCapricorn ZodiacScorpio ElementEarth ElementFire

Where It's Found

Worldwide - Wherever sandstone has been metamorphosed

Very common globally

Brazil - Various

Decorative quartzite slabs

India - Rajasthan

Commercial quarrying

United States - South Dakota (Sioux Quartzite)

Famous pink quartzite, 1.7 billion years old

Price Guide

Entry$2-10 specimens

Mid-Range$50-150/sq ft countertop slabs

Collector$15-60 polished display specimens

Good to Know

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Scratch test: At hardness 7, Quartzite can scratch glass and steel. It's durable enough for any type of jewelry.

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Global supply: Found in 4 notable locations worldwide, from Worldwide to United States.

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Heft test: Quartzite has average mineral density (2.65). It feels about as heavy as you'd expect from a stone its size.

Care & Safety

What quartzite can and cannot tolerate, based on its hardness (Mohs 7) and chemistry (SiO₂ (recrystallized quartz grains)).

Can Quartzite go in water?

Yes. Quartzite is hard (Mohs 7) and chemically stable, so plain water is fine for rinsing and cleaning with mild soap. Avoid prolonged soaking, which serves no purpose, and dry the stone afterward.

Can Quartzite go in salt water?

Not recommended, even though quartzite itself is hard and not water-soluble. Salt is corrosive and mildly abrasive: it can dull a polished surface, attack metal settings, and crystallize inside small fractures as the stone dries. A brief dip will not destroy quartzite, but rinse it with fresh water afterward and dry it. For routine cleaning, plain water is the safer choice.

Water safety for every stone →Full crystal care guide →