Pure quartzite is grey to white. Often, quartzite is streaked and patterned with pink, brown, or red deposits, most often iron oxides. Other colors may appear in quartzite flooring due to different mineral deposits. The coloration can be fairly uniform or a bold, swirling pattern of streaks and lenses. These patterns form when sandstone undergoes great heat and pressure. The quartz and cementing material re-crystalize, while other minerals liquefy and flow before re-crystalizing into the patterns that we see.

Quartzite flooring is quite dense. Quartzite flooring typically comes in tiles ranging from one-half to one inch in thickness, and 165 square feet of such quartzite flooring can weigh a ton. Quartzite flooring is also extremely hard, ranking 7 on the Mohr mineral hardness scale (diamond is 10). In fact, crushed quartzite is used as railroad track ballast because it is so hard and durable.

There are two ways of finishing quartzite for use in home surfaces. Polished quartzite is very smooth and shiny. Polishing also emphasizes the color and pattern of the stone. Polished quartzite is often used in countertops, walls, vanities, sinks, and other non-traffic surfaces. But a very shiny quartzite is also a very slick quartzite, not well suited for floors.

Honed quartzite is a satin finish that glows gently. On floors, honed quartzite is preferred because it provides better footing and its finish will hold up better. It tends to get dirtier, or least show the dirt more, than polished quartzite because it is more porous, but it can withstand stronger cleaning agents without losing its finish. Like all stone flooring, quartzite flooring should be sealed when it is laid and every few years thereafter. Sealing helps minimize stains.

For cleaning quartzite flooring, use clean potable water and neutral (pH-7), mildly abrasive cleaners. Commercially available Soft-Scrub or other thick liquid cleaners and chlorine-bleach type scouring powders are ideal for this purpose. Simply mix in clean water according to manufacturer's directions. (Note: chlorine bleach should not be used on dark colored stone, as it may lighten the stone's color.)

Wet the quartzite flooring first, with hot but not boiling clean water. Then, using a mildly abrasive, alkaline cleaner and a medium bristle brush, wash in swirling, overlapping strokes. Suds can be left on for a while to allow bleaching agents to work on stains.

Rinse thoroughly, then mop dry with clean cotton, flannel, burlap, or chamois cloth. It is important to dry well to avoid streaks.

If extra-strength cleaning is needed on a quartzite floor, a paste of mildly abrasive alkaline cleaner and water, about the consistency of syrup, can be used. Apply the paste uniformly and allow it to dry. Then, use a medium bristle brush and clean water to scrub vigorously. Rinse and dry as described above.

Quartzite flooring is extremely durable and beautiful. It's also expensive, but worth having in high-traffic areas and where appearance matter most.