Granite, often a general term used to describe hard and durable stone surfaces, is actually only one of many types of stone sold for countertop applications. Granite is one of the most durable countertop surfaces you can buy. Granite is strong, heat and scratch resistant and comes in a variety of colors, patters and grain structure.

Granite is a common type of igneous rock composed mainly of quartz, different types of feldspars, micas, and hornblende, along with varying amounts of the elements aluminum, calcium, iron, and magnesium.

Although granite is very strong and durable, it is porous. Sealing the stone is recommended to prevent staining. Granite is typically one of the most affordable stone countertop options and is readily available.

Natural Quartzite, not to be confused with Engineered Quartz, has become very popular over the years. Quartzite offers more of a “marble” look, while providing a very hard and durable surface suitable for kitchen countertops and other countertop applications. Quartzite is generally heat and scratch resistant but other impurities found in many Quartzites, can sometimes make them less durable than natural granite.

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that has been formed from sandstone and has been altered by heat and pressure over time.

Like most natural stones, Quartzite should be sealed to protect from staining and are typically more expensive than traditional granite materials.

Basalt and gabbro are often referred to as granite in the stone countertop industry. Like granite, they are very hard, dense and are heat and scratch resistant. In general, many black granites are usually basalt or gabbro. Because of their uniformity and dark color, they tend lend themselves to a more modern or minimalist design aesthetic.

Basalt is a dark-colored, fine-grained, igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals. It most commonly forms as an extrusive rock, such as a lava flow. The difference between basalt and gabbro is that basalt is a fine-grained rock while gabbro is a coarse-grained rock.

Although Basalt and Gabbro are very dense, they are still porous and need to be sealed to prevent staining. Basalt and gabbro generally fall into the same price range as natural granite.

Schist materials have increasingly made their way into the granite countertop industry over the last several years. With the advancement of stone processing technology, these generally fragile materials are now capable of being processed into slab material for countertop applications. The mica that is commonly found in schist provides a natural sparkle not typically found in other stone countertop materials. In general, schist is fairly hard and suitable for kitchen and other countertop applications. One of the drawbacks to schist is that its fragile and can be a challenge to fabricate without chipping or breaking.

Schist is medium grade metamorphic rock, formed by the metamorphosis of mudstone / shale, or some types of igneous rock. It often contains significant amounts of mica, which allow the rock to split into thin pieces.

Schist is porous and needs to be sealed to prevent staining. Because they are more fragile than other stone types, they typically require a bit more care. Also, because of the variation in material hardness, they typically do not have a very uniform finish when polished.