A stone quartzite is a rock consisting of several minerals: quartz, corundum, topazes, sericite, talc, feldspar, pyrophyllite the main of which is quartz.
Qualities of quartzite
Quartzites usually have uneven structure because sandstones of quartzite consist of large debris of sedimentary origin bonded with natural cement. Large mica and quartz crystals are visible in quartzites. Due to bonding of particles of different sizes the stone has a high durability – 8 points on the Mohs hardness scale.
Also quartzite is resistant to low and high temperatures. The stone is beginning to change only when heated up to the temperature of 1770 degrees Celsius that makes it safe and longevous building material for a bath. Service period of the rock at active operation is 200-300 years.
Quartzite is afraid of neither high humidity nor chemical agents – acids and alkalis. However because of extended hardness the material is extremely difficult to process that increases the cost of products from quartzite. So quartzite is usually purchased for special cases. For example quartzite was applied to the making a sarcophagus for Napoleon.
Quartzite quarries
Quartzite is a widespread rock, it is deposited in large extended stratums in Russia, Africa, Eastern Europe and America. In Russia the major concentration of stone deposits is located in the Urals.
Colors and quartzite shine
Standard stone colors are white, gray, cherry, yellow. Purple, crimson, blue, green and black are considered to be rare colors of quartzite.
The presidential courtyard in the Kremlin was paved with cubes of Karelian crimson quartzite. Crimson rock is the most expensive, dense and heavy; a ton of quartzite is one large cobblestone. Crimson shades of stone are loved in China where thousands of buildings were constructed of violet quartzites.
The cheapest variant is the rock of white color. It was applied to the construction of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg.
Inclusions of mica and quartz give the stone shine and irradiation – quartzite is sparkling. Because quartzite is easy to polish this quality of the stone is always used as rule.
Applying quartzite
The beauty and longevity of quartzite allow using it successfully in construction and architecture. Buildings are constructed from stone; furniture, monuments, vases, pictures, paving tiles and cubes are also made of stone.
Yellow, white and gray quartzite is especially popular in construction because it doesn’t require a special maintenance. It is often applied to erection of palaces, airports, buildings of public purpose, kindergartens and also to the construction of parks.
