Quartz countertops are actually harder and more durable than granite countertops, but the material is much more expensive to produce than other types of stone, and they are made in a very different way from natural stones or quartz countertops. They are man-made, i.e. they were made with specific uses in mind, so no two pieces are the same. Some quartz plates do not resemble natural stones such as granite, quartz or even granite - like stone.  

Unlike granite, a natural stone, quartz countertops are made by a man - a technical stone that is at least 90 percent natural quartz and a small portion natural granite. Forbes reports that quartz is not a "natural stone," but man-made stones that make up 90 percent of quartz, with the rest made up of a mixture of other materials such as sand, sandstone, clay, and sandpaper. Quartz countertops contain a maximum of 90-90,000 cubic feet of quartz per square inch, or just over 1,500 square feet, of which at least 60-70 percent are crushed and mixed with pigments and resins.

In special quartz countertops, the final appearance can be mimicked in a variety of shapes and patterns, imitating materials such as granite, limestone and even soapstone, thus mimicking their natural appearance.