Is Quartz A Natural Stone
Is Quartz a Natural Stone?
Quartz is often grouped with granite and marble, but it is not quite the same. Here is whether quartz counts as a natural stone, and why the distinction matters.
The short answer
Engineered, not natural
Quartz is an engineered stone, not a natural one.
It uses a natural mineral, but the finished slab is manufactured.
93%
Natural quartz mineral
1
Manufactured slab
Quartz is not a natural stone in the way granite and marble are. It is an engineered stone: it uses a high proportion of natural quartz mineral, around 93%, but the finished slab is manufactured by binding crushed quartz with resin and pigment. Granite and marble, by contrast, are quarried as solid blocks and cut into slabs. The distinction matters because engineered quartz is consistent and non-porous. To go deeper, read what quartz is made of and quartz versus granite.
At a glance
engineeredstone
What quartz is
A manufactured slab, not quarried.
93%natural quartz
The natural part
A high proportion of natural mineral.
consistentby design
The advantage
Engineering means slabs match.
Engineered stone versus natural stone
What counts as a natural stone
Natural stones such as granite and marble are quarried in solid blocks and cut into slabs, then polished. Each slab is unique because it is a piece of the earth. Quartz worktops are different: although they use a natural mineral, the slab itself is manufactured. Our FAQ on what a quartz worktop is explains the basics.
Why quartz is called engineered stone
Quartz is described as an engineered stone because crushed natural quartz is bound with resin and pigment and compacted into a slab. It is neither fully natural like granite nor fully synthetic. Our FAQ on what quartz is made of covers the make-up, and what type of rock quartz is covers the natural mineral.
The natural part of quartz
It would be wrong to say quartz is not natural at all. Around 93% of a quality slab is natural quartz mineral, one of the hardest common minerals. The engineering is in how that mineral is processed into a consistent, non-porous slab.
Why the distinction matters
The distinction is practical, not just technical. Because quartz is engineered, its colour and pattern are consistent from slab to slab, and it is non-porous so it never needs sealing. Natural stones vary slab to slab and many need sealing. Our FAQ on whether quartz needs sealing covers this advantage.
Choosing between them
Neither is simply better. Some homeowners want the unique character of natural stone, others want the consistency of engineered quartz. Our FAQs on quartz versus granite and quartz versus marble compare them, and the Quartz Worktops Bedford page covers getting quartz fitted.
Key points
Quartz is engineered stone
Manufactured, not quarried as a block.
It uses a natural mineral
Around 93% natural quartz crystal.
Granite and marble are natural
Quarried in solid blocks and cut.
Engineering means consistency
Slabs match, and the surface is non-porous.
To learn more, read what quartz is made of, quartz versus granite worktops and whether quartz needs sealing. The full Quartz FAQs has more.
Engineered quartz, fitted by Bedford specialists
Precious Marble supplies, fabricates and fits engineered quartz worktops from its Elstow base. Tell us about your kitchen for a free quote. 0% interest-free finance is available.
More from the Quartz FAQs
Common questions
Is quartz a natural stone?
What is the difference between engineered and natural stone?
Is any part of a quartz worktop natural?
Does it matter that quartz is engineered rather than natural?
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!