Patagonia Gold Quartzite

What you are looking at

Patagonia is a quartzite formed under enormous pressure from a mix of minerals rather than a single uniform sand, which is why it carries such a range of colors and textures in one piece. The gold in Patagonia Gold Quartzite comes from the iron-rich minerals that flow through the crystal zones; where they concentrate, the slab glows warm, and where the quartz dominates it turns glassy and pale. Under a raking light the crystal facets catch and sparkle. It is exceptionally beautiful in the plain sense of the phrase: people who do not usually notice stone notice this one.

Ours comes from India

Much of the Patagonia on the US market is Brazilian. Our Patagonia Gold Quartzite is sourced from India, where the gold tones run warmer and the crystal zones are large and clear. It is a premium-grade material, polished, and like every slab in our Buda yard it is 3 cm thick. Because the variation from slab to slab is so wide, we do not sell this stone from a photograph. Come and look at the specific slab, or ask us to send images of each one we have on the racks with its bundle number.

Working with an exotic quartzite

Patagonia Gold is harder than marble and resists etching, but it is a more complex material than a uniform quartzite like Taj Mahal, and a fabricator should know that going in. The crystal pockets can be more open than the surrounding stone, and some slabs are reinforced on the back at the quarry to stabilize them for transport and cutting. That is normal for this family of stone and is not a defect.

A good fabricator will template a Patagonia Gold top around the most open crystal zones for sink cutouts and will seal the top thoroughly at installation. Natural stone holds its finish longest when it is cleaned and sealed to suit the material; the Natural Stone Institute publishes free, independent guidance on sealing stone countertops that is worth reading before the job is templated.

Where it works best

A kitchen island, where it becomes the centerpiece and the perimeter counters can be something quieter. A bar top, wet bar or wine room, where the gold and amber tones do what they were made for. A bathroom vanity or a fireplace surround in a room that wants one dramatic element. It also backlights well in slabs with large clear crystal zones, though less uniformly than Cristallo, with the light coming through in pools rather than evenly. We would not put it on every surface of a room; it is meant to be the one thing.

Pairing it

Because the slab already carries so much color, the rest of the space should be simple. Flat-panel cabinetry in a solid color pulled from the stone, whether cream, deep brown or a muted green, lets the slab lead. Brass or bronze hardware picks up the gold; matte black anchors it. Keep the backsplash plain, or take the slab itself up the wall and let it be the whole story.