Granite is an intrusive igneous rock formed from the slow cooling and crystallization of magma deep beneath the Earth's surface. It's composed primarily of quartz, feldspar, and mica, which give it a coarse-grained texture and a variety of colors, including pink, white, and gray. Because of its formation under immense pressure, granite is an exceptionally hard and durable rock that is resistant to weathering and is used in building materials like countertops and monuments.

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Quartz is a crystalline mineral composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2), making it one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. It forms in a variety of environments, most commonly from the slow cooling of magma or from geothermal waters, allowing its atoms to form a continuous framework of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra. Quartz is known for its hardness (7 on the Mohs scale), durability, and a property called piezoelectricity, which allows it to generate an electric charge when mechanical stress is applied.

Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms when sandstone rich in quartz is subjected to high heat and pressure, typically during tectonic plate compression. This process recrystallizes the individual quartz grains and the cement that binds them, creating a rock that is even harder and more durable than its parent rock. As a result, quartzite is highly resistant to weathering and is prized for its use in construction, particularly for flooring, roofing, and countertops.