Definition
Travertine is a mineral consisting of layered calcium carbonate formed by deposition from spring waters
  
Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone
  
History
  
  
Origin
Italy
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Italian travertino a kind of building stone, from Tiburs, adjective from Tibur (Tivoli), in Italy
  
From quartz + -ite
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Banded
  
Foliated, Granular
  
Color
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Red, White, Yellow
  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Light Grey, Purple, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Fibrous
  
Lustrous
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar
  
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Paper Industry, Pottery
  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As armour rock for sea walls, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, In aquifers, Laboratory bench tops, Petroleum reservoirs, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones, Used in aquariums
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Stalactites and stalagmites are formed from this rock, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock
  
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Sacré Coeur in Paris, France, Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Absent
  
Formation
Travertine is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock which then undergo sedimentation. They are then subjected to high temperature and pressure hence forming travertine rock.
  
Quartzite forms from sandstone and the mineral quartz being put under extreme heat and pressure.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
  
Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO, Oxygen
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
3-4
  
6-7
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Splintery
  
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Dull to Pearly
  
Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
80.00 N/mm2
  
23
115.00 N/mm2
  
18
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Indiscernible
  
Toughness
1
  
1.9
  
Specific Gravity
1.68
  
2.6-2.8
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Transparent to Translucent
  
Density
2.71 g/cm3
  
2.32-2.42 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
1.09 kJ/Kg K
  
8
0.75 kJ/Kg K
  
18
Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, Russia
  
China, India, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey
  
Africa
Not Yet Found
  
Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe
  
Europe
Austria, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom
  
England, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Greenland
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Bahamas, Canada, USA
  
South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador
  
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Not Yet Found
  
New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
  
Travertine vs Quartzite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Travertine vs Quartzite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Travertine and Properties of Quartzite. Learn more about Travertine vs Quartzite in the next section. The interior uses of Travertine include Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Quartzite include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Travertine and Quartzite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Travertine in construction industry include As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar and that of Quartzite include Arrowheads, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of glass and ceramics, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.
More about Travertine and Quartzite
Here you can know more about Travertine and Quartzite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Travertine and Quartzite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Travertine includes Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz and mineral content of Quartzite includes Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Travertine vs Quartzite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Travertine is available in beige, black, blue, brown, grey, red, white, yellow colors whereas, Quartzite is available in black, blue, brown, green, light grey, purple, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Travertine is Fibrous and that of Quartzite is Lustrous. Properties of rock is another aspect for Travertine vs Quartzite. The hardness of Travertine is 3-4 and that of Quartzite is 6-7. The types of Travertine are Not Available whereas types of Quartzite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Travertine and Quartzite is white. The specific heat capacity of Travertine is 1.09 kJ/Kg K and that of Quartzite is 0.75 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Travertine is impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Quartzite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.