Did you know that quartz is a natural stone and it is also one of the most abundant natural materials on our planet? If you are seriously considering having a beautiful quartz worktop fitted into your kitchen, then think about this – your worktop will be the result of 1) a volcanic eruption or 2) The Barometer Effect – how cool is that!
Quartz is in essence formed from a Silicone atom bound to Oxygen. Silicon Dioxide (or Silica), is an oxide of silicone that has a chemical formula of SiO2 and it is this that is most commonly found in nature as quartz.
When volcanos erupt, they cause chaos by spilling their lava everywhere, what goes up must come down. As this magma cools down, the silicone from it starts a chemical reaction with the Oxygen surrounding it. Gorgeous Silicone Dioxide crystals are formed and it is these that are mined out of rocks which we call quartz.
The Barometer Effect mentioned earlier is the second way quartz is formed. This is a much less vigorous and frightening process (as you will come to discover next). Silicone can dissolve at high pressures in water. It is the high air pressure above the sea that makes silicone within the sea to start dissolving. Oxygen from the surrounding air starts to react and bond together with the dissolving Silicone and it is this that forms quartz crystals. These crystals lay underwater, often on the seabed where they are then collected to produce lovely quartz slabs.
After these crystals have been gathered, the production of quartz can begin where quartz crystals are ground down to form dust. The dust is then mixed with resin and polymers that hold all the dust particles together. From there, quartz slabs are produced, cut and used in our homes as quartz worktops. Usually, Quartz slabs are made up of around 90-93% quartz dust and the rest are other materials.
The colours, patterns and general designs seen on quartz slabs are created from the different pigments that were added to the stone during the production process. Some of the shiny specs you see on quartz worktops are actually from recycled glass or metal pieces which were added during production. No two quartz slabs look completely identical, you can rest assured that your quartz worktops will be completely unique in their design and colour.
View a selection of our quartz worktops colours – https://sharpstonegranite.co.uk/quartz-worktops/#colours
Telephone:
01279 729527
Showroom Address:
Sharpstone
The Test Site, Matching Hall Farm
Harlow, Essex, CM17 0RR
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