Quartzite And Marble Acid

Marble has a moh s hardness rating of about 3 while quartzite has a rating of approximately 7.

Quartzite and marble acid. Marble is softer than quartzite. An acid test works because of the minerals that compose these stones. Additionally marble is soft while quartzite is hard and durable. As it turns out calcite reacts with acid and the stone will etch.

Quartzite is impervious to weak acid etching but marble will bubble and retain a mark. Quartzite is formed when heat pressure and other geological forces destroy or modify the texture and structure of quartz sandstone. An excellent test to distinguish the two is to apply a bit of vinegar or lemon juice to the rock. But quartzite will not etch at all from normal kitchen.

Uses of both marble and quartzite. The scratch test and the acid test. Marble and quartzite can be finished in a variety of ways. This is significant because when any liquid with a high concentration of acid accidentally spills on marble such as lemon juice or tomato sauce it can alter the surface by leaving spots known as etches.

Quartzite is also a metamorphic rock but differs from marble in that it does not contain calcium carbonate. Dolomitic marble etches slightly more slowly than regular marble. Quartzite is more scratch and acid resistant. Chemically marble is composed of calcite while quartzite is not.

This means that marble is much softer and will scratch easier than quartzite. Finish options for marble and quartzite. Quartzite will not etch from acids like lemon juice or vinegar. Despite having a similar appearance marble is a metamorphic rock made from recrystallized carbonate minerals not silicates.

Fortunately there are a couple of simple tests one can perform to tell the difference between marble and quartzite. Quartzite is quite different. This does not happen with quartzite. This means that if a liquid with a higher acid concentration of spills onto a marble countertop such as lemon orange or tomato juices the surface can be forever altered and spots and etches in the marble can occur.

If a rock labeled as quartzite becomes etched from acid then it s been mislabeled. The hardness of marble vs. Marble is the rock with the most uses of all. As previously mentioned marble is made up of calcite and quartzite is composed of quartz.

This means it is not susceptible to acid etch damage. Marble and dolomitic marble on the other hand will etch from these acids.