Helpful Information About Green Harlequin Quartzite

There are a number of reasons to be interested in Green Harlequin Quartzite. For one, if you are a fabrication professional that is looking to work with the material it is good to know a bit about it. Also, if you are a homeowner and you like the look of quartzite you may have been drawn to Green Harlequin Quartzite and need to know how to maintain it. In this article we will take a look at some of the properties of quartzite and mention some specifics about Green Harlequin Quartzite. Along the way, we will see what fabricators need to be aware of when they are working with Green Harlequin Quartzite.

Diverse Quartzite Topics

Some quartzite names are used in the industry as the names of slab colors and others are not. If you search for a specific quartzite name online, you will get either a mixture of search results, primarily sales oriented results, or primarily scientific results. Green Harlequin Quartzite yields its own set of search results. In fact the following quote was taken from Lustro Italiano regarding Green Harlequin:

Quartzite (metaquartzite) is a quartzose, crystalline-textured, metamorphic rock. It forms by intermediate- to high-grade metamorphism of quartzose sandstones and siltstones. This is a cut & polished surface of fuchsitic quartzite quarried as a decorative stones. The gray material is quartz. The green is fuchsite, a chromian muscovite mica. The rock shows hints of foliation, due to the presence of small sheets of fuchsite mica.

The basics when it comes to quartzite are of interest to diverse groups of people; slab distributors, suppliers, scientists, and even consumers. The diversity of topics on the Internet regarding quartzite show this well.

What Green Harlequin Quartzite Is Made Of

Like other quartzites, Green Harlequin is made up of specific minerals and is formed through a specific process. Authentic quartzite has certain characteristics that distinguish it from other kinds of natural stone. Green Harlequin Quartzite will have the same properties as other quartzites. However, as is indicated by the names of specific quartzites, the color or texture might be different. Color variations are usually caused by varying mineral content and the texture may be due to a specific event during the formation. Additionally, locations are sometimes included in the names and this can hint at where that particular stone originates.

Finding out exactly what quartzite is can be done through reference materials. Browsing the Internet or looking in a library for a definition found in an encyclopedia or science text book will get you a pretty good description of not only what the material called quartzite is, but a synapsis of how it is formed as well. On the website Virginia.gov there is a very succinct statement describing what quartzite is. The statement is as follows:

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms when quartz sandstone is subjected to elevated pressure and temperature during regional metamorphism.

No matter what definition you use though, the idea is simple. Green Harlequin Quartzite is born from sandstone. After its transformation, the material has properties that distinguish it from sandstone and it is also very different from other natural stone as well. Let's look at some of the properties of Green Harlequin Quartzite.

Green Harlequin Properties

The properties of quartzite vary and each particular stone will have unique features that differentiate it from the rest. In fact, Green Harlequin Quartzite has its own distinctive characteristics too. However, one quality that quartzite shares is that it is a versatile material that can be used for various projects.

In addition to those distinguishing characteristics, Green Harlequin shares other very specific properties with other "flavors" of quartzite. For example, quartzite is very hard. How hard is it? Well, it is harder than some natural granite Quartzite registers about 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Compare that to granite registering from 6 to 7. The reason Green Harlequin Quartzite can be harder than granite is because of its quartz content.

The hardness of the material means that it is not easily scratched by normal household use. Some kitchen countertop materials can scratch easily but Green Harlequin is not one of them. The hardness makes it a durable material; desirable by many.

In addition to being very hard, authentic quartzite, Green Harlequin included, is also not as porous as other natural stone. It does have pores, just not as many as other types of natural stone in some cases. Fewer pores means easier stain removal. Furthermore, owners often enhance the stain resistance with maintenance routines that we will talk about in a bit.

Color Compatibility of Green Harlequin

The unique and rich colors of Green Harlequin mean that it can be used with virtually any design style that is popular. Having stone that fits with various design styles can be a key to a successful project. What is meant by a "design style"? Note the following examples:

Scandinavian Design

Another design style that focuses on simplicity and functionality which emerged in the early 20^th century. By way of clean, sleek, and simple lines as well as functionality and minimalism, the scandinavian design style produces an aesthetically pleasing space nicely. The lack of clutter and absence of superfluous items in the design make it very comfortable feeling.

Modern Design

Clean, crisp, lines and a simple color palette are the marks of this design style. It exudes a sense of simplicity in each of its elements. Even the furniture carries a sense of simplicity. Some of the materials that are used in this design style include metal, glass, and steel. Additionally, it is one of the design styles that is lacking clutter and has a clean appearance.

French Country

if you have an affinity for ruffles, distressed wood work, mixed patterns, and hues that are both vibrant and subdued, french country is the style that you are looking for. This design style is warm and brings the curves. With hefty beamed ceilings and walls as well as delicately carved wood details, this design style is truly eye catching. A style that is sure to inspire.

Traditional Design

Classical details coupled with an abundance of accessories, the traditional design style is is one that has been around and perhaps utilized by many at one time or another. In addition to accessories of plenty there is a variety of textures and curved lines to accentuate the design. Traditional design is one of the more popular styles and continues to endure throughout time and history.

Midcentury Modern

Roughly defined, the midcentury modern design style is architecture, furniture, and other design elements taken from a specific period of time ranging from circa 1933 to 1965. It highlights functionality and uncluttered sleek lines combined with both traditional and non-traditional materials; often using them to contrast one another.

Fabricating Green Harlequin Surfaces

When it comes to working with Green Harlequin Quartzite, having the correct tools for the work makes it much smoother and the results come out better. Fabricating natural quartzite will be much easier if the tools and supplies used are quartzite compatible. Let's look at a couple of products that will play a role in the successful fabrication of Green Harlequin.

Working With Green Harlequin Quartzite

Cutting and shaping Green Harlequin means having diamond blades and other tools that are designed to cut hard materials. Some blade producers will mark a blade specifically for certain materials. Others will give the blade a name and market it for use on multiple materials. When it comes to cutting Green Harlequin, the best blade to use for these hard surfaces is a diamond blade for quartzite. The blade that many fabricators rely on for cutting quartzite is the White Lion from Weha. Another good quartzite blade is the Grey Leopard from Weha.

The same goes for other diamond tools like core bits, and stone polishing pads. Selecting a polishing pad or core bit designed for use on a hard material will generally perform well for Green Harlequin and there are many from which to choose.

Sealing Green Harlequin Quartzite

As we mentioned earlier, sealer helps with the stain resistance of Green Harlequin Quartzite. So fabrication and installation services that include an initial sealing of a Green Harlequin stone boosts the resilience of the finished product. Better yet, when a homeowner knows how to care for the finished surface, the results are even better.

How to Care for Green Harlequin

Caring for Green Harlequin consists of some basics involving cleaning and protecting the stone. First, cleaning Green Harlequin surfaces regularly using a cleaning product that is designed for use on natural stone surfaces is a great starting point. Then, maintaining the seal on the material enhances the resistance to potentially harmful substances. Finally, the regularity with which these practices are performed will have a direct bearing on the outcome. Let's look at each of those phases now.

How to Clean Green Harlequin

Cleaning Green Harlequin is not complicated. Regularly perform cleaning on Green Harlequin using a compatible cleaner to preserve the appearance of your quartzite surface. There are many cleaners that will do the trick. The key is to choose one that is pH neutral. These types make the best cleaners for natural stone because they won't break down the sealer. That helps with the stain resistance.

If you need to clean a Green Harlequin slab or countertop by removing a stain, you will want to use the proper stain remover for the type of stain the stone has. Water based stains, oil based stains, and rust each will respond differently depending on which stain remover you use.

Maintaining the Seal

Just because a Green Harlequin gets an initial seal does not mean that it will be impervious to stains and discolorations. Actually, the stone benefits regular, periodical resealing. Using an impregnating stone sealer for natural stone is a good way to keep your Green Harlequin looking its best. You can even get sealers that enhance the stone and bring out the colors.

About Maintaining Green Harlequin

So cleaning and resealing become the the key elements to keeping you natural stone surfaces looking the best. That goes for Green Harlequin Natural Quartzite too. Maintaining your quartzite comes down to a good stone care routine. here is one routine that some have found very beneficial.

• Use a pH neutral cleaner to keep the sealer from breaking down and clean any debris from the surface.
• Reseal the surface of your quartzite surface when it gets "thirsty"*.
• Using a fortified stone polish periodically gradually maintains the sealer on the surface of the natural stone.

Let's recap some of the things we have considered in this article. We looked at the properties of Green Harlequin Quartzite. The properties of quartzite make it durable and compatible with virtually all design styles. We even looked at some popular styles and considered a little bit about them. Fabrication of Green Harlequin was another subject that we looked briefly at. In discussing working with Green Harlequin Quartzite we examined the need for tools designed for quartzite and why that is important to the success of the project. And we waded into the subject of caring for and maintaining quartzite surfaces. The end choice of whether you will work with Green Harlequin or not is yours. However, if you decide to fabricate the material or have it in your home, it helps to know some of the basics about it.