Thank you so much. Just came from a major stone supplier showroom to select for kitchen remodel. My wife fell in love with several quartzite slabs but the sales person said much better to go with granite as the quartzite was so bad to stain and score from tomato or lemon spills. My wife was so disappointed. After seeing this I guess the sales lady has been getting feedback from mislabeled stone. We are going back with a glass bottle! Thanks again, best tip ever!
Thank you! It's fun and I learn way more researching all of this stuff than I can clearly communicate, so it's a great way for me to continue my education as well.
thank you so much, we are in middle preparing kitchen renovation, wife asked me how to tell difference between Marble vs. quartzite, after watching your demonstration, i am "expert" now
This couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve got to pick out the counter tops for our new home on Monday and I will certainly check before I purchase. Thank you Jordan for sharing this and all your great knowledge with us! This is great!!
Thank you helping me learn more about the three differences of stones. I just started working for a granite company and Im trying to learn as much as I can about my product. And this video is by far the most helpful!!!
Thanks ! I watched 3 other videos and you have the best info ! First one to say the glass trick . one guy did acid but didn't even say what kind of acid . and the plea for knowledge , love it .
That Turtle pattern reminds me a bit of Hydro-dipping paint. when you add different colors you get those types of patterns and boundaries between colors. Different types of rock melted at perhaps slightly different temperatures, causing some to pool in certain areas pushing aside other material creating those boundaries.
That's a really good explanation. We have the same thing that happens in the solidification of metal alloys. When the mixture of copper/tin for example approaches a certain chemistry, the melting point dips way below either the melting point of copper or tin. It's called the eutectic point. What can happen during the solidification of weldments is that a boundary layer of this low melting point material can form and then when the rest of the material solidifies around it you have what is known as solidification cracking. I bet you're right, that the same thing has happening in the solidification of this stone, and that the low melting point minerals get pushed to the outside of the higher melting point minerals.
RE: The Turtle pattern. Most likely that occurs from cutting slabs across igneous rock that formed "Columnar" joints. If magma cools relatively rapidly, significant contraction forces build up. While cooling magma can shrink in the vertical dimension without fracturing, it can't easily accommodate shrinking in the horizontal direction unless cracks form; the extensive fracture network that develops results in the formation of columns. It forms very clear polygonal shapes, the most common being hexagonal. There's a lot of places where this kind of geology occurs but I've never seen anyone slice it up for counter tops. It's kinda neat - but I wouldn't want it in my kitchen. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columnar_jointing
Right. This was a crosscut slab on a formation much like what you mentioned. This one is called tortoise but you also get similar looks on a Palomino slab (different material). Anyway, cooling speed also influenciates on the grain sizes (not the case for this), you can see this better on Feldspars (white granites with chunks of white mass - Feldspars - and Crystal), the bigger the chunks the slower it cooled (minerals had longer to group) Working with ornamental stones is great, is a whole world on itself.
Thanks so much for this video! It really cleared up a lot of the confusion during our search for countertop material. By the way, what is the name of that specific quartzite. It’s beautiful! Also, can you explain what a hard marble is? And how hard it is compared to quartzite?
I got a box of rocks for my 8th birthday. Long story short maybe starting off on that lesser note isn't good. It's too personal. Some of us can talk about rocks, but all of us have a roof over our head. Seen you on Matt's, a lot. Now I know how to test yard sale items also 😝
Thanks that was incredibly helpful! Never had someone explain in those terms but that was awesome. I've worked in the remodeling industry for over a decade and still can't tell the difference. I gotta say though I still get confused between quartz and quartzite. If quartz is usually an engineered stone with 10% or so resins and such, is quartzite 100% real stone? You said it was a metamorphic rock like marble, right?
You are correct. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered. I found out when I thought I was choosing a marble slab for a project. Turned out to be quartzite. And more expensive than marble to boot.
Great video! Can you do a similar video on the difference between granite and black granite (gabbro)? I've researched them somewhat, and found the claim that granite will etch if exposed to vinegar (or similar), but gabbro won't, but I'd love to hear what you can find from a builder's perspective!
No direct experience. It is pretty soft 3-4 on the Mors hardness scale, and is more reactive than quartzite, but less reactive than marble. So clean up your spills and you'll have a beautiful long lasting countertop!
Shooting a video holding a bottle of Topo might be the most Texan thing you've done yet. :) Edit: I shouldn't have commented until watching the "post credit". Eating peaches, holding a bottle of Topo while gleefully yelling 🍑 is the most Texan thing you've done!
A nice reminder while checking the hardness of the material, is to notice if the edge of the slab is protected by a structure used to protect the blocks prior to sawing into slabs; fiber glass netting. Since the fiber glass has a hardness compared to glass, it could most likely scratch the glass. I gotta tell, it's not too long but I've been working with stones for 3 years now, and the quartzite didn't seem as one to me. This is to show how hard it is to identify them.
@@JordanSmithBuilds as a fabricator and installer, there is really know way to test what stone it is beside by testing hardness. You kind of have to just cut in to her and see how it reacts to your tooling, and what the inside composition is. I suggest every customer do as much research as possible on their countertop, to understand its properties. But the most important thing is sealing the stone annually.
Hi Anthony. Quartzite and marble can be harder to tell apart due to them both being natural stones. Quartz on the other hand is an engineered product generally made up of 93% natural quartz and 7% resin and pigments.
What does having a knife in Texas have to do with anything lol? I grew up in Oregon and live in Massachusetts and always have a knife with me haha. Now if it was a gun, than that would be a Texas thing.
Come on, geologists, am I high or is it all a micro grain that it is part of a macro something? Im probably high but still, smart people tell me, educate me! Im so hungry right now...
Thank you so much. Just came from a major stone supplier showroom to select for kitchen remodel. My wife fell in love with several quartzite slabs but the sales person said much better to go with granite as the quartzite was so bad to stain and score from tomato or lemon spills. My wife was so disappointed. After seeing this I guess the sales lady has been getting feedback from mislabeled stone. We are going back with a glass bottle! Thanks again, best tip ever!
I LOVE the fact that you explain things scientifically/technically in your vids. It gives us a real understanding of the subjects. Thanks a bunch!
Thank you! It's fun and I learn way more researching all of this stuff than I can clearly communicate, so it's a great way for me to continue my education as well.
thank you so much, we are in middle preparing kitchen renovation, wife asked me how to tell difference between Marble vs. quartzite, after watching your demonstration, i am "expert" now
This couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve got to pick out the counter tops for our new home on Monday and I will certainly check before I purchase. Thank you Jordan for sharing this and all your great knowledge with us! This is great!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you helping me learn more about the three differences of stones. I just started working for a granite company and Im trying to learn as much as I can about my product. And this video is by far the most helpful!!!
Thanks ! I watched 3 other videos and you have the best info ! First one to say the glass trick . one guy did acid but didn't even say what kind of acid . and the plea for knowledge , love it .
Dude, you're awesome. Informative and also inquisitive, looking for professional input. This is much appreciated, thanks for the great video!
Thank you. I am looking at slabs that looks the same but one is label Marble and another Quartzite. Going back with my bottle.
The quartzite in your video is beautiful! Could you please tell me what the name of it is? Thank you!
Excellent informational video, thankyou from Australia.
Thank you for explaining the difference between the stones in a normal, easy to understand, funny way. That's awesome!!
"yOu can tEll by using your KNife". what knife? what is the knife made of?
We're all out of Chico -Tico's up here in Canada so I used my nails. 😁. Hey it worked! It's marble! Thanks man!
Great Vid... Thanks for the Tips, that was Awesome! 👍😉🇨🇦
That Turtle pattern reminds me a bit of Hydro-dipping paint. when you add different colors you get those types of patterns and boundaries between colors. Different types of rock melted at perhaps slightly different temperatures, causing some to pool in certain areas pushing aside other material creating those boundaries.
That's a really good explanation. We have the same thing that happens in the solidification of metal alloys. When the mixture of copper/tin for example approaches a certain chemistry, the melting point dips way below either the melting point of copper or tin. It's called the eutectic point. What can happen during the solidification of weldments is that a boundary layer of this low melting point material can form and then when the rest of the material solidifies around it you have what is known as solidification cracking. I bet you're right, that the same thing has happening in the solidification of this stone, and that the low melting point minerals get pushed to the outside of the higher melting point minerals.
What is the name of that quartzite you are testing ? It looks like marble .. the one in the back?
I appreciate the knowledge..thank you😊
thats super helpful! I found a big chunk of white stone from a table top and can't tell what kind of stone it is. now i'll know ;)
RE: The Turtle pattern. Most likely that occurs from cutting slabs across igneous rock that formed "Columnar" joints.
If magma cools relatively rapidly, significant contraction forces build up. While cooling magma can shrink in the vertical dimension without fracturing, it can't easily accommodate shrinking in the horizontal direction unless cracks form; the extensive fracture network that develops results in the formation of columns. It forms very clear polygonal shapes, the most common being hexagonal. There's a lot of places where this kind of geology occurs but I've never seen anyone slice it up for counter tops. It's kinda neat - but I wouldn't want it in my kitchen.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columnar_jointing
Right. This was a crosscut slab on a formation much like what you mentioned. This one is called tortoise but you also get similar looks on a Palomino slab (different material). Anyway, cooling speed also influenciates on the grain sizes (not the case for this), you can see this better on Feldspars (white granites with chunks of white mass - Feldspars - and Crystal), the bigger the chunks the slower it cooled (minerals had longer to group)
Working with ornamental stones is great, is a whole world on itself.
what are some of the whiter quartzite and are the names of quartzite the same from dealer to dealer?
Awesome video! Very educational...Thank u!
You're welcome! Thank you!
Great little class!
awesome video. THANK YOU
Wow,super helpful! I need a glass bottle now.
Texas, whoo hoo! Great explanation, easy to understand. Good job! But now I want a good juicy peach!
Awesome thanks 👍
Thanks so much for this video! It really cleared up a lot of the confusion during our search for countertop material. By the way, what is the name of that specific quartzite. It’s beautiful! Also, can you explain what a hard marble is? And how hard it is compared to quartzite?
I got a box of rocks for my 8th birthday. Long story short maybe starting off on that lesser note isn't good. It's too personal. Some of us can talk about rocks, but all of us have a roof over our head. Seen you on Matt's, a lot.
Now I know how to test yard sale items also 😝
So helpful. Thank you
Splendid!
Man you did a big favor to me tanks a lot
Quartzite is a beautiful choice for counters. We just could not find one with the white base we wanted without appearing glassy.
Thanks for helping my child ace the test
Where are you located in TX?
Thanks this was helpful
Great Info! Thanks
Thank you!
Is quartzite, same as Crystalline marble!!?
Could you explain why my Quartzite counter now has these pits forming everywhere? It looks terrible.
Not without more information. Is it in your kitchen? Is it really quartzite? Have you had any assets like lemon or vinegar come into contact with it?
what is its already installed and there's no rough edges anymore? How to tell what is it then?
Which is better for outside bbq area? I plan on a leather finish
Excellent info. Also, is the Topo Chico bottle igneous or sedentary? 😉
Thanks.
Do either granite or quartzite emit any levels of radon?
What OTF knife is that you are carrying?
Thanks that was incredibly helpful! Never had someone explain in those terms but that was awesome. I've worked in the remodeling industry for over a decade and still can't tell the difference. I gotta say though I still get confused between quartz and quartzite. If quartz is usually an engineered stone with 10% or so resins and such, is quartzite 100% real stone? You said it was a metamorphic rock like marble, right?
You are correct. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered. I found out when I thought I was choosing a marble slab for a project. Turned out to be quartzite. And more expensive than marble to boot.
Great video!
Can you do a similar video on the difference between granite and black granite (gabbro)? I've researched them somewhat, and found the claim that granite will etch if exposed to vinegar (or similar), but gabbro won't, but I'd love to hear what you can find from a builder's perspective!
We went with dolomite countertops on our new build. Have you had any experience with it? Good or bad?
No direct experience. It is pretty soft 3-4 on the Mors hardness scale, and is more reactive than quartzite, but less reactive than marble. So clean up your spills and you'll have a beautiful long lasting countertop!
Shooting a video holding a bottle of Topo might be the most Texan thing you've done yet. :)
Edit: I shouldn't have commented until watching the "post credit". Eating peaches, holding a bottle of Topo while gleefully yelling 🍑 is the most Texan thing you've done!
Except for not knowing, that's not very Texan.
First of all, what the heck is Topo Chico and how do we find it in AZ!? Secondly, keep up the good work Jordan 👍
Check the link in the description. Amazon sales it. It might change your life.
I'm no geologist, but those stones looked nice to me.
Yeah it does, doesn't it!
Do all you Texans walk around with switchblades also? lol 😂👍
great video
Thanks for the kind comment. Makes a guy feel all warm and fuzzy. Keep it up!
A nice reminder while checking the hardness of the material, is to notice if the edge of the slab is protected by a structure used to protect the blocks prior to sawing into slabs; fiber glass netting.
Since the fiber glass has a hardness compared to glass, it could most likely scratch the glass. I gotta tell, it's not too long but I've been working with stones for 3 years now, and the quartzite didn't seem as one to me. This is to show how hard it is to identify them.
I've been in this industry for 7 years, mind you I'm 24. A lot of "quartzite" is not, it's actually a dolomite. Some beautiful stones in that yard.
Some beauties in there for sure. How do you check to tell the difference?
@@JordanSmithBuilds as a fabricator and installer, there is really know way to test what stone it is beside by testing hardness. You kind of have to just cut in to her and see how it reacts to your tooling, and what the inside composition is. I suggest every customer do as much research as possible on their countertop, to understand its properties. But the most important thing is sealing the stone annually.
Turtle Granite; Believe it's a column cut across the diameter.
What is the name of the quartzite in this video?! Love it!
Do I spy a fellow microtech carrier? I love geology, you did your research well.
Thanks! I carry it in the truck mostly, cause it's too big and not very practical as an eod. But it is just too cool not to show off on a video!
And here I thought the dude just finished drinking his beer carrying the empty bottle around in the hot sun
Echale Limon Y Sal a el topo chico. Topo chico prep!
Isn’t it the problem with quartz vs quartzite rather than marble?
Hi Anthony. Quartzite and marble can be harder to tell apart due to them both being natural stones. Quartz on the other hand is an engineered product generally made up of 93% natural quartz and 7% resin and pigments.
What does having a knife in Texas have to do with anything lol? I grew up in Oregon and live in Massachusetts and always have a knife with me haha. Now if it was a gun, than that would be a Texas thing.
Use lemon juice real quarzite will not etch with the acidity, marble will
Jordan Smith.....we want to learn about your SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM!!!
There is wasabi quartzite that looks like the turtle granite. It's probably granite not quartzite.
Fwiw, most quartzite is harder than granite. It’s one of the main “advantages”
Come on, geologists, am I high or is it all a micro grain that it is part of a macro something?
Im probably high but still, smart people tell me, educate me!
Im so hungry right now...
I honestly laughed out loud at this comment.
I like taking the tip of my 800 dollar microtech and grinding it into hard rocks.
Are you serious?
Very helpful, thanks
Great video thanks!
Thank you!