I can't find it to link you, but look up KarinMT who has made extensive posts on how to test your stones so that you know exactly what they are and what to expect. Good luck.

So...he will give you a small piece of the super-white "quartzite" to run your own tests?!?

Super-white granite...that is a new one to me. Granites are not known to etch...so is he saying that his super-white "granite" etches but his super-white quartzite does not? Geez!

Some people have no problems with super-white etching, and some complain their counters look horrible after a short time. The only way you are going to know about his "quartzite" slab is to run your own tests. If the stone passes to your satisfication, take a photo of the slab you are buying so that when you go to approve the templating/cutting you can compare the slabs.

Sorry, but there are so many reports of slab/fabricator problems. Better to be proactive than reactive after the install.

This is karin_mt's current thread. It contains links to her previous threads. Very informative.

I have SW which I believe is actually quartize. I've lived with it for 2.5 years with no etching, only scratches. It's a beautiful stone. Just make sure you know what you have and can live with it.

White Super Quartzite

Super white granite

Not sure why the pics didnt post the first time. Can anyone tell just by looking? I know there is another one that is also called super white but it looks more like clouds. Then i read that real quartzite will have more white in it. IM SO CONFUSED!

nhbaskets, can i see a pic of your quartzite? etching is what scares me. he also said that sealing it will help with etching, not sure if thats true.

The Definitive Guide To Quartzite is the article. An excerpt-

"How to do the glass test:

• Use a glass tile.
• Find a rough section of the stone, preferably a pointy edge.
• Put the glass tile on a table, then try to scratch the tile with the stone. Press hard.
• Inspect the scratch. Is it really a scratch? Or is it a powdered trail of crumbled rock?
• If the stone is variable and has more than one color or type of mineral in it, repeat the test in different places.

What the results mean:

• Real quartzite will scratch glass easily. You’ll hear it grind and you’ll feel it bite into the glass. The resulting scratch will be obvious. Yeah! You’ve got quartzite!
• Non-quartzite will either leave no scratch or a very faint scratch. Often the rock feels slippery against the glass. It doesn’t make a noise. It leaves a powdery trail that rubs right off. Darn. Not quartzite. But aren’t you glad you know that now?

What if there is no broken edge to use, such as a full slab with epoxied edges?

• You can do a similar test with a knife blade. Try to scratch the rock with the tip of the blade. Genuine quartzite will be scratched lightly or not at all. Marble or dolomitic marble will be easily scratched.

You can also try the etching test:

Put lemon juice or vinegar on the surface of the slab, let it sit for 15 minutes or so, and then wipe it off and see if the stone is affected. Etching can look like a lighter area, a darker area, or a place where the shiny finish of the stone has become dulled. When exposed to acids like vinegar or lemon juice, marble will show obvious etching. Dolomitic marble will show more subtle etching. Quartzite will have zero etching. Note that strong acids like in rust stain removers can etch even granite and quartzite. For our purposes, we are talking about everyday acids you’d cook with.

These simple tests will go a long way toward sorting out the mystery of quartzite. Plus, you get to do a little geo-detective work and learn about your stone in new ways."

that is very helpful, thank you!

white macaubus - is that always a quartzite? would i be safe if we went with that?

From that article regarding Super White

"What about Super White?

Super White is one of the stones that is frequently caught in the quartzite vs. marble mystery. Most commonly, Super White is dolomitic marble. That means it won’t scratch glass and it will etch with acids. Some Super White has minor amounts of quartz mixed in with the marble. But the rock is still marble and will act like marble. When doing the glass test with Super White, be sure to test a few different areas to get a sense for the overall rock. Is it all the same? Or are there some parts that are harder or softer?"

Test the slab. And test any alternative offered as White Macaubus. Which should be more likely to be quartzite.

Many thanks to Karin.

Sealing helps with staining not etching. Post a comment in Karen's thread...I would love to hear her take on super-white "granite." Your fabricator has told you two things that would make me question working with him.