I am not normally known as a style guru but today I want to impart what I hear is the latest in the world of kitchen design. Apparently, granite countertops are on their way out. Where did I pick up this shocking tidbit? None other than the ever up-to-date Home section of yesterday’s New York Times. According to Evan Nussbaum of Stone Source “people have become a little sick of the traditional speckled granite look.”
I was shocked to read this. (Of course, we have kept our retro white Formica countertop, long suspecting that speckled was over rated.) You may wonder what are the new stones that are titillating those in the know. First is quartzite, a stone that “tends to give you the drama” of marble but without that pesky “acid sensitivity.” What else could you desire in a countertop? Now, whether these quartzite are true quartzites is hard to tell, as names in the building trade mostly reflect the whims of marketers and less the reality of geologists.
[nggallery id=8]Quartzite is a metamorphosed sandstone that can consist of as much as 99% quartz. It is usually extremely hard. One place where is what used as a building tone is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It has a lovely pink hue.
Two additional contenders are basalt and schist, described as providing “a monolithic-gray, minimal-looking countertop.” Again, it is unclear what these stones are. Schist is another metamorphic rock, usually identified by the alignment of minerals such as mica. I came across one popular variety, Pietra Cardosa, listed as a schist, quartzite, slate, limestone, and granite, which actually makes it an ideal stone to use because you can call it what you what depending on what sort of fashion statement you want to make.
I think it’s great that we are seeing these new rock types becoming trendy. Any time the language of geologists can enter the popular lexicon is good. Stay tuned for more style updates.
As much as I enjoyed your Bride of Frankenstein title, it left me a little confused. Several other sites warn that Quartzite is in fact susceptible to etching and to acid sensitivity. Some confuse quartz (manufactured with quartz and resin) and quartzite (a natural metamorphic stone), but even those who seem to get it right, and note that quartzite is harder than granite, still warn of potential problems.