Helpful Information About Rawnsley Quartzite

There are a number of reasons to be interested in Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley Quartzite. Along the way, we will see what fabricators need to be aware of when they are working with Rawnsley 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. Rawnsley Quartzite yields its own set of search results. In fact the following quote was taken from ScienceDirect regarding Rawnsley:

The Rawnsley sequence developed over an erosional surface cut into the Chace Quartzite Member, with some 250 m of relief. Southeasterly directed palaeovalleys are filled with a sequence of massive sandstone and laminated siltstone passing up into well bedded sandstone. At lowstand, local channels were filled by massive sand.

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 Rawnsley Quartzite Is Made Of

Like other quartzites, Rawnsley 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. Rawnsley 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.

You can find a number of explanations describing what quartzite is. And if you do a bit of research, you will find that most of the definitions are somewhat the same. The following definition of quartzite is one that can be found in an article by Karin Kirk written for Use Natural Stone. In the article entitled The Definitive Guide to Quartzite, Karin defined it this way:

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock made almost entirely of the mineral quartz. Quartzite begins its geologic life as sand grains, perhaps on a beach, desert dune, or riverbed. Over time, the sand grains become compressed and stuck together to form sandstone. If the sandstone gets buried ever more deeply underneath layers of rocks, it gets hotter and more compressed. With enough heat and pressure, the sand grains lose their original shape and fuse to their neighbors, forming a dense, durable rock. The process is similar to individual snowflakes merging into solid, glacial ice.

No matter what definition you use though, the idea is simple. Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley Quartzite.

Rawnsley Properties

The properties of quartzite vary and each particular stone will have unique features that differentiate it from the rest. In fact, Rawnsley 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, Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley is not one of them. The hardness makes it a durable material; desirable by many.

In addition to being very hard, authentic quartzite, Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley

The unique and rich colors of Rawnsley 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:

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 funiture 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.

Bohemian Design

Described as a free-spirited look and feel, bohemian style design emerged from France and carries with it some very distinctive characteristics and design elements that differentiate it from others. The free spiritedness mentioned above is achieved by making use of many things from many different philosophies, ways of life and parts of the world. All these elements converge to produce a diverse style that accurately represents the ones who inspired it.

Rustic Design

Rugged, natural beauty is what characterizes this design style. Embracing textures inspired by nature, the rustic design style makes use of simple, earthy, colors and textures that exude a warm, organic look and feel. Rough and aged are words that are often used to describe this unique design style. The style focuses on nature utilizing raw, rugged and unfinished looking design elements.

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.

Industrial Design

The design that stands out as taking its cues from old manufacturing and industrial spaces is this one. Often seen in lofts and other living spaces the industrial design style makes use of a number of elements. One of the main ones is exposed brick. Another is open ceilings with visible pipes overhead. Additionally, duct work that is revealed and out in the open is a highlight of this design style.

Fabricating Rawnsley Surfaces

When it comes to working with Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley.

Working With Rawnsley Quartzite

Cutting and shaping Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley, 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 Rawnsley and there are many from which to choose.

Sealing Rawnsley Quartzite

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

How to Care for Rawnsley

Caring for Rawnsley consists of some basics involving cleaning and protecting the stone. First, cleaning Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley

Cleaning Rawnsley is not complicated. Regularly perform cleaning on Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley 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 Rawnsley looking its best. You can even get sealers that enhance the stone and bring out the colors.

About Maintaining Rawnsley

So cleaning and resealing become the the key elements to keeping you natural stone surfaces looking the best. That goes for Rawnsley 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.

In conclusion, Rawnsley Quartzite is just one of the many unique variations of quartzite that have been found. however, each quartzite surface will bring with it characteristics like the ones we mentioned in this article. Namely, scratch resistance, design compatibility, easy maintenance and simply cleaning. Finally, when you fabricate Rawnsley Quartzite, one key is to make use of the proper tools by selecting blades, bits, and polishing pads that are designed for quartzite and other hard materials.