Basalt vs Quartzite
Natural Material · grade comparison
Basalt and Quartzite are both natural material grades. Quartzite is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) against 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) for Basalt, about 13% more. Quartzite is lighter (2.65 g/cm³ vs 2.9 g/cm³ for Basalt) and Quartzite is stiffer (75 GPa vs 70 GPa). On the shop floor, Basalt sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Quartzite (standard, $$).
BasaltChoose it when cost is the deciding factor.
QuartziteChoose it when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint.
Basalt vs Quartzite: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Elongation at Break
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Knoop
Hardness, Mohs
Same in both: Compressive Strength 250 MPa36.3 ksi
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Min Service Temperature
Same in both: Max Service Temperature (continuous) 400°C752 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Polishability
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Same in both: Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Basalt | Quartzite |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $ Budget | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Basalt vs Quartzite — frequently asked
Is Quartzite stronger than Basalt?
Yes. Quartzite has a typical tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) against 15 MPa (2.18 ksi) for Basalt — about 13% more.
Which is cheaper, Basalt or Quartzite?
Basalt is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Quartzite is standard ($$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Basalt or Quartzite?
Basalt, by a small margin. Both rate not recommended for machinability — 12/100 against 7/100 for Quartzite.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Basalt and Quartzite side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.