Quartz 101: Exploring The Fascinating World of This Unique Material

 ABOUT

Comprising of silicon and oxygen, Quartz stands as one of the most abundant substances on Earth, possessing remarkable hardness with a Mohs scale rating of 7 (a scale used in gauging mineral hardness by evaluating their susceptibility to scratches, cuts, dents and more, with 1 being the softest, and 10 being the hardest).

The creation of quartz unveils through the solidification of magma enriched with silica. Picture quartz as the finishing touch, crystallizing during the concluding chapters of igneous rock formation. Notably, quartz doesn’t shy away from metamorphic transformations, and its formation even thrives under the most extreme metamorphic conditions. It exists in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. However, they take thousands of years to form.

But its tale doesn’t end there. This mineral also enjoys an extensive global presence, found in nearly every nation. However, despite its widespread availability, quartz preserves its status as an exceptionally valuable and coveted mineral. Its presence is enduring, proving that its allure knows no bounds.

There is uncertainty in the origin of the word ‘quartz’. While some people believe the word originated from the German term ‘quarz’ (which is of Slavic origin), meaning ‘hard’, others believe it originated from the Saxon word ‘Querkluftertz’, meaning ‘cross-vein ore’.

Sparkle-Grey-2-1
SPARKLE GREY
Carrara-Small-Vein-11
CARRARA SMALL VEIN
Cemento-2
CEMENTO GREY
Statuario-Luzon-1-2-1
STATUARIO LUZON
Calacatta Ellen New
CALACATTA ELLEN
CHARACTERISTICS AND BENEFITS

Composition, Hardness and Colour: Quartz is made up of silicon and oxygen, and is one of the hardest materials as proven by its Mohs scale rating of 7, as previously mentioned. It comes in almost every colour. Quartz can differ based on their pattern and machine used in manufacturing the material.

Bespoke: Orders in quartz can be made bespoke. As quartz products are man-made, they can be customized to clients’ orders and requirements in terms of shape, size, patterns, colours and more.

Heat Resistance: Quartz are heat resistant up to 150 degrees Celsius. However, excessive heat may cause the resin to melt and permanent burn marks to appear.

Uniform Appearance: For materials like marbles, different slabs of the same product may have different vein patterns. However, with regards to quartz, each slab is the same. They all have the same look and polish.

Durable: Due to its hardness, quartz is also quite durable. Additionally, they are weather, heat and erosion resistant.

Little to No-porosity: Quartz products, have extremely small to no pores. Therefore, moisture or liquid absorption is extremely less thereby, limiting long-term stains and bacterial growth. Additionally, there is no sealing required to prevent stains unlike in other materials like granite.

Low Maintenance: Owing to its durability and resistant nature, quartz can be of low maintenance. Furthermore, no special cleaning substances are required to maintain its state. It can easily be cleaned with soap and water.

Eco-friendly and Sustainable: Quartz products are eco-friendly and sustainable. Quartz products can be upcycled. For instance, quartz countertops can be upcycled into new tables (eg. coffee tables) or kitchen utensils such as a roller or fancy tray/plate.

 WHY IS IT USED IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Quartz has become a popular choice for installations in residential and commercial spaces for bathrooms, walls, countertops and kitchen islands. Especially countertops as quartz countertops are low maintenance and non-porous, making it stain resistant. Additionally, other benefits and characteristics (mentioned above) make quartz a further preferred choice. Nonetheless, they aren’t fully resistant to scratches or stains and hence, can be damaged if not taken care of properly. 

Watch our Quartz manufacturing unit in India 

For more details log on our website : www.alasalmarbles.com or write us email : info@alasalmarbles.com

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