Here in the Bay Area, no one seem to have heard of quartize.. Does anyone know where to find it here? Best regards, Tanya

Wow that is an amazing slice, mustbnuts. Does it cost a fortune? If it's yours and you have oh about 4' x 6' left over, could I take it off your hands? We're looking to make a tabletop and the rock in your pic would do just fine!

I think you're after Okite.

The Bianco Carrara color is now being sold under the Zodiaq name.

I don't think it looks like marble -- it's not bad, but it's really flat looking. (I investigated it, getting a sample from the Okite people in TX and then going to see a full slab of it.) However, there is someone here who used it and really likes it. I guess it all depends which is more important: maintenance-free countertop or the look of marble.

Good luck!

Please ask about the properties and suitability before using non-granites. Many people do like marble, and many quartzites have the same properties. They can be very hard and still etch and stain, so be prepared for that if you choose one. Many people don't mind. But test a sample first. Sealing may prevent staining but won't help etching. As Bill has pointed out recently, even after sealing that doesn't mean that it won't absorb any liquids. Test with oil as well as other substances.

Sue

Found that slab in Fresno, CA. Not far from the bay area. I think it was about $15--17/foot. Not bad.

sue ct... are you saying that quartzite etches? I didn't that that... I thought only marble did. I've seen pics of quartzite that I love and thought it might be an answer for me.

I have White America quartzite on my island and it does not etch. Most people have never heard of it, even stone fabricators, and consider it a granite. Others assume it's a man-made stone, so I often have to explain.

Caesarstone has one that looks like marble, called Misty Carrera. I think Kompy posted a picture of it a long time ago. I got a sample of it from Caesarstone. It's obvious that it's not real marble, but it's very pretty.

I've had Caesarstone Misty Carrera since last August. Yes, it's not marble, it doesn't have the deep veining most marbles have. It does, however, have a marble-like look to it. I debated and debated and went with this. I like that it looks similar to marble but I have none of the worries or maintenance issues that having marble entails. I am in my kitchen a lot and I don't want to worry about any aspect of it, I just want to use and enjoy it. The Caesarstone has been a breeze to keep clean and I don't have to worry about etching, staining, sealing. It's a good fit for me.

{{!gwi}}

Julie, I love your kitchen, the red island is an especially nice touch, as well as the overhead lamps. I am starting my renovation on Monday, and am going with a Silestone called Blanco Maple. It in no way looks like marble, but it has the same whitish background with grayish quartz chips in it. I want "cool" colors in my new kitchen and am avoiding browns/tans.

trudymom, did you get your answer? Not sure exactly what you were looking for, but here is another countertop that mimics marble in MaryLynnNC's kitchen. Read the posts in the FKB, it sounds like this is a laminate that looks very like marble.

Here is a link that might be useful: MaryLynnNC's countertop

Thank you all for your suggestions. The one I was looking for was Caesarstone Misty Carrera. You guys are so awesome!!

mustbenuts- I'm also in the bay area and am considering quartzite. Could you please share the name of the Fresno yard where you found the quartzite slab you posted. My son's baseball team has an upcoming tournament in Fresno, I'd like to sneak away to check out some quartzite slabs. Thx in advance.

Yes, I was told that some quartzite does etch. I was asking on the stone advise forum about one called Mont Blanc that was listed as quartzite by the stone yard and this is what I was told:

Mont Blanc is not a granite.
It was introduced as a quartzite which is harder than granite. But unfortunately it is not a quartzite.
It is what we have come to refer to as a hybrid marble/quartz material. It will scratch and etch.
It is suitable for kitchens as long as you treat it like a marble and install it honed.

So although there are probably pure quartzite stones out there, there are also stones that may be somewhere in between. That means it is probably important to test the stone you are getting the make sure it is what you expect. I would be very upset if I got a "quartzite" instead of marble because marble was not practical for me and ended up with soemthing that would stain and etch anyway.

Sue

Hello everyone! I have been reading these messages for the past 4 months as my kitchen was being remodeled and I have so appreciated all the advice and interesting stories.

I just got Okite countertops installed this very day, and no, they don't look like marble, but I think I will love them any way.

I started this message and realized I don't know how to attach a picture but I'll figure it out so you can see what the "fake" marble looks like.

This one is called Giallo Michelangelo and has a definite yellow base.

Here is a link that might be useful: let's see if this works

Ehoops, I have seen quartize in several places here in Fresno. One of them was off of Blackstone and Dakota (if I recall correctly) Fresno Marble and Granite (or is it Granite and Marble). They have a brand new showroom. That is where I took the picture.

Another place was Paragon off of Helm. They had a different quartize than the one in the picture. We took a nail to it and tried to scratch it. Couldn't do it. Fabricator states there are different quartizes. Some are harder and some are softer than others. Same thing with most stones.

Either place has wonderful stone. My beautiful Yellow River is at Paragon. The stone they have in the back stone yard is top notch. They really know what they are doing. I hear there are four fabricators in Fresno that are just supurb. They are one of those four.

mustbnuts- thanks for the info. I'll see if I can check them out while we're there for the tournament.

I have Jungle Green granite. It's pale sage green with lots of movement - browns and copper colors. Everyone is always asking me if it's granite or marble. It looks very much like marble.

Some people think my Andromeda White granite is marble...but anyone here wouldn't be fooled. So if you're tring to fool yourself, it wouldn't work, but if you wanna fool the average ignorant person...

There's copper countertops that have the look of marble.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clearly copper - countertops that look like marble countertops

To answer your question: Dupont has a new 'QUARTZ' product under their Zodiaq line which is called Bianco Carrara. From all reports Kitchen Designers claim it resembles the real thing. FYI, Quartz products are a combination of 'natural quartz stone' and 'epoxy' thus are extremely durable and require little if any maintenance. Myself I love the uniqueness of natural stoneS, however as these products (Cesarstone, Hanstone, Cambria, Dupont etc) are all man-made they are consistent in color and design which can be a plus to the consumer.