Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
Marble is soft calcite that etches from acids and scratches easily; true quartzite is fused quartz that is harder than glass and rarely etches. Both can stain. The catch is that many stones sold as quartzite, such as Super White, are really dolomite or marble and do etch. Test a sample before buying, and consider protection film for either stone to prevent stains and etching.
Key points
- Marble: softer, etches easily, classic veining.
- True quartzite: very hard, acid resistant, can still stain.
- "Soft quartzite" is often dolomite or marble in disguise.
- Film protects both, so the look can decide.
Side by side
| Marble | True quartzite | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Recrystallised limestone (calcite) | Recrystallised sandstone (quartz) |
| Hardness (Mohs) | About 3 | About 7 |
| Acid etching | Etches in seconds to minutes | Highly resistant |
| Staining | Moderate | Varies: some slabs are porous |
| Scratching | Scratches easily | Very scratch resistant |
| Look | Soft, deep veining; classic whites | Often glassier, linear or crystalline veining |
| Popular examples | Calacatta, Carrara, Statuario | Taj Mahal, White Macaubas, Cristallo |
| With our film | Etch and stain proof | Stain proof, finish preserved |
The soft quartzite trap
"Quartzite" sells, so the name is stretched. Stones such as Super White and many products labelled "soft quartzite" are actually dolomite or dolomitic marble. They are harder than typical marble but they will etch. Buyers who chose "quartzite" to avoid etching are often surprised by their first lemon ring.
Two tests before you buy: ask for an offcut and try to scratch a glass tile with a sharp edge (true quartzite will; marble and dolomite will not). Then leave a few drops of lemon juice on it for five minutes, wipe and look at an angle. A dull mark means it etches.
Which should you choose?
If you want the classic softness of Italian marble, choose marble and protect it. If you want hardness and heat tolerance with a marble-like look, a true quartzite is excellent, as long as you have verified it is one. Either way, our film means the choice can be about looks: marble becomes etch-proof, and quartzite is protected from staining and wear. See also benchtops after the engineered stone ban.
Frequently asked questions
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Request a free quote online or by email. We will call to arrange an on-site visit or a quote over the phone.