Super White Calacatta

Geologically it is a quartzite — a metamorphic rock formed from original quartz-bearing sandstones under high pressure and temperature. During metamorphism the original quartz sand grains fused together under pressure and heat and recrystallised into a dense, crystalline quartzite fabric. Mineralogically, Super White Calacatta is an exceptionally pure quartzite with a high quartz content, which gives it its characteristic technical robustness and its resistance to acids. The luminous white ground tone results from an exceptionally pure quartz composition with minimal colouring mineral fractions — a rare geological condition that makes the stone one of the whitest quartzite selections available. The dramatic grey veining was formed by tectonic zones of weakness during or after metamorphism, which were filled with calcitic-dolomitic or clayey, iron-bearing mineralisation — the fine net-like structures recall spiders' webs or frozen movement. The trade name “Super White Dolomite” that is used from time to time refers to the partly dolomitic vein zones, but is petrographically imprecise, since the bulk of the stone is quartzitic.

Visually, Super White Calacatta is defined by an exceptionally elegant, almost luminous material signature. The ground tone is a luminous, radiant cream-white to light grey with a fine crystalline microstructure, crossed by dramatic, fluid and organic grey veining that runs across the slab like a spider's web. The veining is unmistakably Calacatta in character: strong, fluid, fragmenting grey to anthracite principal veins, supplemented by finer secondary veins and subtle cloudy, mottled areas. Slab variation is considerable — every slab shows a unique vein composition. Book-matched installation — mirroring adjacent slabs — produces particularly impressive, almost painterly symmetrical large-scale patterns that work in prestige wall cladding like petrified watercolour compositions.

Technically, Super White Calacatta is, like all true quartzites, one of the most robust dimension stones there is: high compressive strength (typically between 200 and 250 MPa for pure quartzites), low water absorption (typically below 0.3 %), high hardness (Mohs hardness 7 for pure quartz), full frost and acid resistance. Standardised data sheets with quantitative measured values are only available to a limited extent for this specific variety; the general properties of Brazilian premium quartzites are, however, well documented. Quartzites are insensitive to lemon juice, vinegar, wine, cola and all household acids — the central advantage of this stone over the visually similar but acid-sensitive Italian Calacatta marble. Heat resistance is excellent; hot pans can be set down directly on quartzite worktops.

In interior fit-out, Super White Calacatta is a premium choice for the highest design demands where a classic Italian Calacatta look is wanted together with the full robustness of a hard rock. Classic applications are kitchen worktops in designer kitchens, wall cladding in hotel lobbies and entrance areas, bar counters and counter fronts, bathroom feature walls and vanity tops in luxury bathrooms, table and console tops as statement furniture, fireplace surrounds and floor areas in prestige rooms. The luminous white tonality with its dramatic grey veining harmonises with any classic or contemporary design scheme — from minimalist modern architecture with black steel and glass to classically elegant rooms with dark timber and brass. Since the 2010s, Super White Calacatta has been one of the most frequently specified materials for premium kitchen worktops in international architecture — the combination of the iconic Calacatta look and quartzite robustness is unique on the dimension stone market. Outdoors, thanks to the frost and acid resistance typical of quartzite, Super White Calacatta can be used without restriction for facade cladding, plinth slabs, stairs and pool surrounds.