The facts
What quartzite actually is
The species behind quartzite is metamorphic rock (quartz), SiO₂ with minor mica, feldspar; it forms in the aggregate of trigonal quartz system.
Usually white to grey; green from fuchsite, red from hematite, blue from dumortierite is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity of about 2.60–2.70, with none; granular fracture cleavage.
Where quartzite comes from
Commercial material comes from Mysore, Karnataka, India, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Kandy District, Sri Lanka.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How quartzite is treated
Massive quartzite is very widely dyed — the sugar-and-acid and aniline dyes used to make 'blue quartz', 'green jade' and 'African turquoise' imitations are hard to see without magnification. Dyeing is rarely disclosed at bead level.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What quartzite is confused with
Watch for Marble, Aventurine, Jadeite and Dyed quartzite sold as turquoise or jade — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.54 (spot) and specific gravity 2.60–2.70 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What quartzite is used for
The trades that buy quartzite are jewellery, architecture and interiors, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and heavy industry. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the square metre or by the block.
Durability and care
Hardness 7; cleavage none; granular fracture. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What quartzite costs
Expect roughly 1–20 USD per kg rough; cabochons typically under 5 USD, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is quartzite treated, and how?
Massive quartzite is very widely dyed — the sugar-and-acid and aniline dyes used to make 'blue quartz', 'green jade' and 'African turquoise' imitations are hard to see without magnification. Dyeing is rarely disclosed at bead level.
Where does quartzite come from?
Mysore, Karnataka, India, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Kandy District, Sri Lanka. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is quartzite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does quartzite cost?
Indicatively 1–20 USD per kg rough; cabochons typically under 5 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is quartzite confused with?
Most often Marble, Aventurine, Jadeite and Dyed quartzite sold as turquoise or jade. A refractive index of 1.54 (spot) and a specific gravity near 2.60–2.70 separate it quickly.
What is quartzite used for besides jewellery?
architecture and interiors, carving and sculpture, decorative objects and heavy industry. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for quartzite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about quartzite