Quartzite is a decorative stone and may be used to cover walls, as roofing tiles, flooring, or stairsteps. Its use for countertops in kitchens is expanding rapidly. It is harder and more resistant to stains than granite. However, don’t confuse quartz countertops with quartzite; quartzite is a totally natural material that’s quarried like granite and marble whereas quartz countertops are man-made. Each piece of quartzite has unique color variations and patterned veining. Although it is very durable, quartzite is a porous material, which means it also needs to be periodically sealed to prevent stains. Quartz countertops are non-porous and don’t ever need to be sealed.

Common uses for quartzite include wall and floor tiles and stairs. Crushed quartzite is also used as railway ballast and to produce industrial sand. Quartzite is very hard and more resistant to staining than granite. Because of these traits, it is highly prized for use as kitchen countertops, however it is expensive due to the few deposits suitable for use for indoor fixtures.