Quartzite countertops have grown in popularity across the United States. These days, many top designers are reporting that the majority of their clients are choosing this natural stone over granite and other countertop options. When it comes to colors, there are many quartzite shades to choose from. Taj Mahal quartzite, in particular, is one of the crown jewels among natural stone countertops.
With the rising popularity of quartzite, it’s no small wonder that so many homeowners in the St. Louis area want Taj Mahal quartzite countertops in their kitchens. This stone takes its name from India’s great monument because the colors are reminiscent of the Taj Mahal’s beauty.
In fact, there is some misunderstanding about this stone — it is sometimes mistaken for granite, and even though it is named for the Taj Mahal, it isn’t quarried in India. In fact, like most quartzite slabs, this stone comes from Brazil. If you’re interested in Taj Mahal for your kitchen or bathroom, read on to learn all about color variations, cost and more!
The Colors of Taj mahal Quartzite
Close-up view of Taj mahal Quartzite stone
One of the reasons why Taj Mahal quartzite is so popular is that it beautifully replicates the look of marble even though it comes with the hardness and durability of granite. Slabs of Taj Mahal will feature broad waves and swirls of color along with interesting striations — not so much the flecked or mottled look that is common with granite, but smooth marbling throughout the stone. Colors are generally warm in tone, white with creamy tan or beige marbling, or sometimes sandier taupe shades. Overall, this countertop is light in color, and it works well in warm and neutral toned kitchens.
Just like any naturally quarried stone, Taj Mahal quartzite will come in slightly different shades, with several color variations available. Scroll down to see several images of different Taj Mahal slabs and you’ll see what we mean — each has slightly different patterning, and there is some variation in color between one batch of slabs and the next batch.
Four different batches of Taj mahal quartzite slabs with some color and pattern variation are shown below:
Is Taj Mahal Granite?
There is some confusion about the differences between granite and quartzite, and in particular, Taj Mahal quartzite is often called granite, even though these are two separate species of stone. For all practical purposes, granite and quartzite are very similar — both are durable, and both come in a variety of colors and patterns, suitable for kitchen and bathroom countertops.
But there is a difference between granite and quartzite. Quartzite is a metamorphic stone, which means that at some point in its formation, it has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts. Usually, this means the rock was subjected to high heat or pressure while buried deep within the Earth’s crust. Granite is an igneous stone, which is a stone that forms when molten magma cools, solidifies and crystallizes.
What Color Cabinets Work Best with Taj Mahal Quartzite Countertops?
Because of the available shade range and the neutral tones found in many slabs of Taj Mahal quartzite, this is a stone that pairs well with a variety of cabinet colors. Taj Mahal works especially well in white and creamy off-white kitchens, where the pale tan shades of this stone are able to lend their warmth to the color scheme. This stone also makes a striking contrast against natural wood cabinetry, and again, the warm tones in Taj Mahal quartzite are a beautiful complement to most shades found in natural wood.
If you’re considering black, dark gray or navy cabinetry, look for more neutral color variants of this stone to make a nice contrast against dark neutral shades.
Durability and Maintenance
Quartzite is a very hard, dense stone that lasts well in a kitchen environment, just like granite. The main difference between maintaining a quartzite countertop over granite is that quartzite slabs sometimes have small inclusions of a mineral known as calcium carbonate.
This mineral can dissolve and etch the stone’s surface when it comes into contact with acidic foods like ketchup and tomato-based products or orange juice. Not to worry if you do spill tomato sauce on your quartzite counter — simply wipe the counter own in a timely manner to prevent etching. In other words, don’t let spills sit!
How Much Does Taj Mahal Quartzite Cost?
This stone rings up at the higher end of the price range, but it is durable and long lasting enough to make it worth the investment. Part of the reason for the extra cost is that quartzite tends to be rarer than granite, and the process to quarry it is a bit more complex than the process to quarry granite slabs.
With installation, a Taj Mahal kitchen counter will cost between $95 and $100 per square foot — about the same price as very high-end granite countertops.
Taj Mahal Quartzite Lookalikes
If you’re shopping for options, be sure to check out two other types of quartzite that look similar to Taj Mahal Madreperola quartzite and Kalahari quartzite.
At Arch City Granite & Marble of St. Louis, Missouri, we seek out the best batches of Taj Mahal quartzite, and we stock full slabs. This makes it easy to select your new counter because you’ll be able to see the entirety of the stone’s color and pattern, something that can’t be achieved by looking at small samples.
Visit our showroom to see the slabs of Taj Mahal that we have in stock, or call us at 314-426-3100 to speak with our stone specialists, who will be happy to help you choose the perfect stone for your kitchen or bathroom project.